A Brazilian mother's police training suddenly kicked in recently when a gunman rushed at her and a group of parents as they waited for their kids to get out of school.

Katia da Silva Sastre, 42, was outside Sao Paulo's Colégio Ferreira Master school when the man charged at them.

In May 12 CCTV footage released by the Sao Paolo government, Sastre can be seen drawing her pistol and firing multiple shots.

The man, identified as 21-year-old Elivelton Neves Moreira, then drops to the pavement. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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Sastre has since been hailed as a hero.

Sao Paulo Governor Marcio Franca showed up at the police station where she works to honor her for her bravery, Fox News reported.

"I went earlier today to the 4th BAEP, in the east of Sao Paulo, to honor a very special mother: Corporal Katia Sastre," the governor tweeted. "Her courage and precision saved mothers and children, yesterday at the door of a school."

Franca presented Sastre with the gift of an orchid.

"I didn't know if he was going to shoot the kids or the mothers or the security guard at the school door," the mother is quoted as saying. "I just thought about defending the moms, the children, my own life and my daughter's."

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