Anne Marie McGowan Murphy, a 52-year-old female, was a devoted special education teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Known for her kindness, quick wit, and dedication to her students, she was a beloved member of the school community. A mother of four, she had a master's degree in art education and was described by her family as a humble and unpretentious person who dedicated herself to art and caring for others.
She was known for her off-beat sense of humor and a wonderful artistic eye.
On the morning of December 14, 2012, her life was tragically cut short when a gunman, Adam Lanza, forced his way into the school and began a horrific shooting spree. When the assailant entered her classroom, Anne Marie's immediate instinct was to protect the children in her care. She acted as a human shield, attempting to shelter her young students from the barrage of bullets. In her final moments, she was found cradling 6-year-old Dylan Hockley, a student with whom she shared a special bond, in a final, futile attempt to save him.
The perpetrator of this heinous act was 20-year-old Adam Lanza. Earlier that day, he had fatally shot his mother at their home before driving to the school. After killing twenty children and six adult staff members, including Anne Marie Murphy, Lanza took his own life as first responders began to arrive at the scene. Because the suspect died by suicide at the scene of the crime, there were no arrests made in connection with the deaths at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Anne Marie Murphy was hailed as a hero for her selfless and courageous actions, laying down her life in an effort to save the children she so deeply cared for.
