It’s not easy being a mother. They take care of their child, their home and their job. And once they’ve finished managing all that, they take some time off to take care of themselves. However, in some rare cases, even those moments of leisure become taxing. Then what should one do? Well, for starters, you can take tips from a Brazilian mother who courageously went up against a gunman.
According to the Washington Post, Katia Sastre was off-duty and was with her 7-year-old to attend a Mother’s Day party. However, things went sideways as she and a group of mothers and children were confronted by a gunman. Her husband narrated the incident saying,
“The first shot ricocheted off something. 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.”
The whole face-off between the gun-totting robber and the Brazilian cop was recorded on the school’s CCTV. It’s harrowing to watch the thug approach this group of apparently helpless families, while others scamper for safety. Thankfully, Sastre was there to save the day and take down the man in a matter of seconds, thereby saving a lot of lives.
News of Sastre’s bravery soon spread all over São Paulo as the video went viral as well. The Governor felicitated her and gave his thoughts on the entire incident.
Fui hoje cedo ao 4°BAEP , na zona Leste de São Paulo, para homenagear uma mãe muito especial: Cabo Katia Sastre. Sua coragem e precisão salvou mães e crianças, ontem na porta de uma escola. #PMSP #PoliciaMilitar #VcPodeConfiar #EstadodeSãoPaulo #GovernodeSP pic.twitter.com/Vi643s1M3e
— Márcio França (@marciofrancasp) May 13, 2018
“It is not ideal that the suspect died. We would have preferred this had not happened. 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.”
The gunman was later identified as 21-year-old Eliventon Neves Moreira. He was shot in the chest and in the leg by Sastre. Although he was taken to the hospital after his arrest, he didn’t survive. However, if it wasn’t for Sastre’s calm demeanour and presence of mind, we would be reading the deaths of innocent people, instead of the one who’s guilty.
Watch the video here:
Warning: Disturbing video. Viewer discretion advised.
Although most will think this shows that São Paulo is a crime-ridden place, the truth is quite the opposite. Crime rate in São Paulo has decreased drastically and much of that is due to the steady decline in unemployment. People like Moreira are probably from fringe mafia groups whose days numbered because of the existence of cops like Katia Sastre.