Meet The Hero Who Used His Body To Shield Classmates From Gunfire

Everyone needs to stop fighting for a second and direct all attention toward Anthony Borges. He’s a 15-year-old victim of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. He was shot multiple times while protecting his classmates. He survived but has a long recovery ahead.

A soccer player at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 15-year-old Anthony placed his body between alleged mass killer Nikolas Cruz and fellow students, Carlos Rodriguez, who said he survived because of Anthony’s heroism, told ABC News.

“None of us knew what to do. So, he took the initiative to just save his other classmates,” Carlos, Anthony’s best friend, told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Carlos said about 20 students ran into a classroom to escape Cruz. Borges was the last one to run in the classroom and stood at the entryway to lock the door. Cruz shot him, but Borges “held his ground in the doorway, putting his body between the bullets and his classmates, who all survived uninjured.”

Amazing.

Anthony was shot four times, taking bullets to the back and both legs, but survived, his father said.

Anthony is in stable condition. Police recently paid him a visit, honoring his selflessness and courage.

Sheriff Scott Israel stopped by Broward Health Medical Center to see him on Sunday as he recovered from his bullet wounds, in both legs and the back.

“The Sheriff was honored to visit [Borges] in the hospital,” wrote Israel’s office.

The Sheriff was honored to visit Anthony Borges,15, in the hospital. Anthony was shot five times. Fortunately, he is recovering, but has a long road ahead with more surgeries needed. Please join us in praying for the swift recovery of Anthony and all others from #StonemanDouglas. pic.twitter.com/U0PVkEwpFZ

— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 18, 2018

Broward Sheriff Scott Israel visiting Stoneman Douglas student Anthony Borges in the hospital. On @GMA, Anthony’s father told us his son was shot while protecting his classmates. https://t.co/G6UvF1CLpA @browardsheriff pic.twitter.com/2miAtworsx

— Victor Oquendo (@VictorOquendo) February 18, 2018

Anthony's classmates say he held the door shut to protect them. He was hit five times through that door. #StonemanDouglas #HERO https://t.co/f6uU3AS17i

— Jana Barnello (@JanaWGME) February 19, 2018

Moments ago, @browardsheriff tweeted a photo of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel visiting Anthony Borges, 15, who was injured during last week's high school shooting in Florida. https://t.co/OppEyOF8Am pic.twitter.com/FChAnobnoi

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 18, 2018

This photo shows Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel paying a visit to 15-year-old Anthony Borges, who was shot five times during the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. He is still recovering in hospital. (📷: Broward Sheriff) https://t.co/pqf6RkVqvd pic.twitter.com/RlupsxApGV

— CNN (@CNN) February 19, 2018

How does a person ignore their sense of self preservation to do something as astonishing as this? Shielding others from harm with your one and only life is the very definition of heroism. I know I will never be as brave as Anthony Borges was that day. He’s truly a super hero. https://t.co/tWdHYvaFUK

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) February 19, 2018

I am just overwhelmed at this story. This young man saved 20 kids. He saved 20 kids! He took 5 bullets. This is rare bravery. You never know when you’ll be called on. At 15 Anthony Borges proved his character. Man, did he ever.

— alice krussow (@KrussowAlice) February 19, 2018

He’s amazing. Prayers for a FULL recovery.

h/t ABC