A GUNMAN who tried to rob parents standing outside a school with their children was shot dead by a brave mum - who turned out to be an off-duty cop.

Footage captured the moment Elivelton Neves Moreira, 21, pulled a pistol on terrified families in Brazil on Saturday as brave Katia Sastre quickly stepped in.

6 This is the moment a brave mum shot an armed robber who drew his weapon on parents and children outside a school in Brazil on Saturday Credit: YouTube/ Redação Mais Região

She can be seen reaching into her handbag to grab her service weapon and firing three shots into his stomach before kicking his .38 revolver away and turning him over.

Parents caught up in the violent scene fled with their kids - who had been attending a Mother's Day celebration at the school in Suzano ahead of the event, which is marked on May 13 in Brazil.

The criminal was rushed to hospital after Katia made an emergency call from her mobile but died from his injures soon after arrival.

Sao Paolo governor Marcio Franca visited military police officer Katia, 42, at her station yesterday to thank her for her bravery in saving the lives of other parents at her daughter’s school.

6 Elivelton Neves Moreira, 21, pulled a pistol on terrified families outside Suzano school near Sao Paulo Credit: YouTube/ Redação Mais Região

6 Brave Katia Sastre quickly stepped in and pulled out her service gun, shooting him three times in the stomach Credit: YouTube/ Redação Mais Região

6 The force of the blows sent the attempted robber to the floor clutching his stomach Credit: YouTube/ Redação Mais Região

He said in a tweet after meeting the mum-of-two, whose daughter attends at the school, at her work HQ: “Her courage and precision yesterday saved mums and daughter at a school entrance.

“Katia acted for two important reasons; in defence of society and in defence of her daughters, her family. I want to thank her for her bravery.”

Footage showed the armed robber, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, come out of nowhere and run up to mums with young children by their side with his gun in his right hand before appearing to try to snatch a bag from one of the parents.

Katia, who has two daughters aged seven and two and is married to a police officer, could be seen discreetly keeping her distance and easing her own weapon out of a bag on her shoulder before opening fire on the criminal from close range.

She took refuge behind a parked car as he writhed in agony on the floor before approaching him again when she realised he was no longer a danger and disarming him - wearing her civilian clothes of jeans, white T-shirt and a pink top.

6 He could be seen writhing in pain as parents fled the scene with their children Credit: YouTube/ Redação Mais Região

6 Katia managed to kick the weapon away from the culprit, who later died in hospital Credit: YouTube/ Redação Mais Região

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The driver of the car she had taken cover behind drove off as she kicked the robber’s gun to one side, coming close to knocking her over as she stopped down to recover the revolver.

A spokesman for the force she works for said: “These criminals lose control easily. Katia didn’t know if he was going to react by shooting at the children, the mums or the headteacher who was at the school entrance.

“She just thought about defending the parents, the children, herself and her daughter.”

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

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