'Hero' principal lunged at Newtown gunman

on 15/12/2012 18:17:20

The principal who died in the rampage at a US school was killed while lunging at the gunman, town officials said.

Dawn Hochsprung was gunned down in yesterday's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.

Board of Education chairwoman Debbie Liedlien said administrators were coming out of a meeting when the gunman forced his way into the school.

Jeff Capeci is chairman of the town's Legislative Council. Asked whether Ms Hochsprung is a hero, he said: "From what we know, it's hard to classify her as anything else."

Ms Hochsprung had worked at the school for two years. Ms Liedlien said she immediately became a well-loved figure and residents are feeling "a deep sense of loss" over her death.