Principal Was Trying to Stop Gunman When Killed

Stories of heroism are emerging in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shooting, including that of a first-grade teacher who was killed after hiding her students, and a custodian who ran through the halls making sure doors were locked. Now principal Dawn Hochsprung joins the list. The AP, quoting town officials in Newtown, says she "was killed while lunging at the gunman as she tried to overtake him."

Hochsprung and other administrators were apparently leaving a meeting as the gunman entered the school. The principal, and possibly others, ran toward him. The Newtown Bee has this line: "The last thing one witness recalled was her turning back and yelling a warning to lock the door as she apparently confronted the gunman." Asked whether Hochsprung was a hero, the chairman of the town's Legislative Council responded, "From what we know, it's hard to classify her as anything else." (More Connecticut school shooting stories.)