Mother hailed as hero after pulling her own weapon and shooting gunman outside a school

A gunman who targeted a group of families gathered for a Mother’s Day celebration at a school was fatally shot by a woman who happened to be an off-duty cop.

Katia Sastre was praised by local officials for her bravery and was credited with saving the day. The incident happened in Brazil. According to the Washington Post, the governor of Sao Paulo congratulated Sastre on Twitter: “I went … today to pay homage to a very special mother: Corporal Katia Sastre. Her courage and accuracy saved mothers and children yesterday at the door of a school.”
Frightening surveillance video of the incident shows the gunman rush toward a group of elementary-age schoolchildren. He tries to grab a bag as women pull their children away. You can view the full video here.

That’s when 42-year-old Sastre, who was with her 7-year-old, pulled out her weapon and shot the robber three times.

Newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reports the gunman fired one shot before his gun jammed.

“The first shot ricocheted off something,” Sastre’s husband, Andre Alves, told the paper. “On his second attempt to fire, his weapon jammed. Thankfully she was faster than he was, because when a thug discovers he’s being confronted by a police officer, he shoots to kill.”

Alves said his wife has been on the force for 20 years.

Sastre pinned the man on his stomach until police arrived. He was taken to an area hospital, where he died.

Sao Paulo Gov. Márcio França said it was “regrettable” that the robber died.

“But it is a warning to those who take up a gun that they could be killed because our security professionals are well trained to protect the public,” he said.

Information from KYMA sister station KCRA.