Victoria Soto, a true hero, died saving her students, remembered at service
Sandy Hook Elementary School first-grade teacher Vicki Soto tried to shield her students by hiding them in a closet or bathroom.
Victoria Soto, age 27, sacrificed her life for her students says her cousin Jim Willsie, speaking with ABC News.
“Yes. From what we’ve been told, my cousin, Vicki, and her first grade classroom, took her students and huddled them into a closet. And then, shielded the children in the closet, trying to protect them from bullets,” he said.
“She was found huddled over her children, her students, doing instinctively what she knew was the right thing.”
During Saturday’s service, her sister Carlee Soto said her sister was indeed a hero.
“My sister truly is a hero and I’m very proud to say she’s my sister. And we definitely lost an amazing person, but she died doing what she loved, protecting the kids that meant the world to her.”
“You have a teacher who cared more about her students than herself,” said John Harkins, Mayor of Stratford, Soto’s hometown. “That speaks volumes to her character, and her commitment and dedication.”
Carlee Soto praising her sister Victoria Soto as a hero
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF JIM WILLSIE SPEAKING WITH ABC:
I’m here, now, with James Willsie, the cousin of another victim and a hero, Vicki Soto, a teacher at the school. I’m so sorry for your loss. Your cousin, from what we know, did everything she could to save the lives of some kids.
Yes. From what we’ve been told, my cousin, Vicki, and her first grade classroom, took her students and huddled them into a closet. And then, shielded the children in the closet, trying to protect them from bullets.
Put herself between the gunman and the kids. Yes. She’s definitely a hero.
Her life dream was to be a teacher. And her instincts kicked in. And protected her children from the harm that was coming.
I’m sure she heard what was going on. And went into lockdowne. Her kids, put them in the closet.
And by doing so, she lost her life protecting those little ones. What have you been able to learn from the police or others on the scene? Just that she was a hero.
The way that she was found, huddled over her children. Her students protecting them. You know, doing instinctively what she knew would be the right thing to do.
And she’ll always be remembered as a hero. What else do you want people to know about your cousin? I was proud to know her.
And I know that her mom and dad have peace knowing the way vicki was taken from us tragically, protecting the children. Her life dream was to be a teacher. And she was all about molding those young minds.
So, she loved it. It’s what she loved to do. And knowing that unfortunately she lost her life.
But knowing the way she lost it. We’re proud to call her family. And that she was a hero.
Trying to protect those children. All our thoughts and all our prayers this morning. Thank you.
Well done, Vicki. Rest in peace!
I’m so very sad and emotional for your loss.May each of the Children Rest In Peace..May the help of God The parents find peace and comfort in this sad time of their Lives:-(