A teacher in Bayonne, New Jersey, is being hailed as a hero after she used her body as a human shield to protect a teenager from a group attacking him. Cathy Hurley, 56, a special education teacher at William Shemin Midtown Community School, intervened when a group of teenagers threw another teen to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him in the head.
According to WABC, Hurley acted instinctively, throwing herself on top of the teen victim to shield him. Her daughter, Frankie Sielski, described the moment as an "angel moment," with Hurley appearing from nowhere to protect the victim.
The victim was knocked unconscious during the assault and was later taken to the hospital. Five teenagers, ranging in age from 15 to 18, have been charged with aggravated assault, endangering an injured victim, and rioting. The 18-year-old, identified as Educarray McGhie, was transported to Hudson County jail, while the juveniles were remanded to different youth correctional facilities, NJ.com reports.
Bayonne School District Superintendent John Niesz praised Hurley's actions, stating that she embodies what everyone who works and lives in Bayonne is all about. Sielski added that she was proud of her mother and wasn't surprised by her instinctive response, as she was raised to stick up for the underdog.
You can watch the video of Hurley's heroic actions below: