The Boy Who Took the Bullets: The Incredible Story of Parkland Hero Anthony Borges

On February 14, 2018, 15-year-old Anthony Borges was just a normal sophomore at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, his mind on soccer practice and Valentine’s Day. But when a gunman began a horrific rampage, Anthony’s life changed in an instant, and his incredible courage would become one of the most powerful stories of heroism to emerge from that dark day. This is the story of The Boy Who Took the Bullets, a quiet teenager who, without hesitation, used his own body as a shield to save the lives of his classmates.

A Split-Second Choice: “I Couldn’t Let Them Die”

When the sound of gunfire echoed through the halls, panic erupted. Anthony and his classmates ran for cover, surging toward a classroom door. As dozens of students scrambled inside, Anthony, one of the last to enter, turned back. He saw the open doorway, his terrified friends huddled inside, and the shadow of the gunman moving closer.

In that split-second, he made a choice. He threw his 150-pound body against the door, using himself as a human barrier to lock it. The gunman, seeing the door close, opened fire.

Bullets tore through the door, slamming into Anthony’s body. One hit his leg, then another, and another. Pain exploded through him, but he held the door shut. He was shot five times – in his back, through both legs, shattering his femur. Still, he did not fall. He held the door, protecting the 20 students inside, until the gunfire finally stopped. Only then did he collapse, his blood pooling on the floor. His friends were safe.

“Dad… Somebody Shot Me”

Despite his catastrophic injuries, Anthony managed to pull out his phone and call his father, Royer Borges. “Dad… somebody shot me. In the back… and my leg too,” he gasped. Royer, at work, felt his world stop. “I’m coming, I’m coming right now,” he panicked. But Anthony’s voice was fading. “I love you, Dad,” he whispered. Then the line went silent.

Royer raced to the scene, only to be met by a wall of chaos and sirens, unable to reach his son. Hours later, he learned Anthony was alive, but barely, having been airlifted to a hospital.

The Long Fight for Life

Anthony’s battle was just beginning. He had massive blood loss, a shattered femur, and a long road of surgeries ahead. Doctors worked through the night to save him. When his father was finally allowed to see him, he was pale, hooked up to tubes and a ventilator. But when Royer took his hand, Anthony gave a faint squeeze. He was still fighting. “He’s my hero,” Royer wept. “He’s only fifteen… and he did something a grown man might not have done.”

A Hero’s Humility

As the world learned of Anthony’s bravery, he was hailed as “The Human Shield.” Donations and messages of support poured in from around the globe. Soccer stars sent him signed jerseys. The community rallied around him. But when asked about his actions, Anthony’s words were simple and humble. “I just did what anyone should do,” he told his father quietly. “I couldn’t let them die.”

Physical therapy was brutal. He had to learn to walk again, each step a painful reminder of the trauma. But he did it. The classmates he saved sent letters, one reading, “You saved me without even knowing my name. I’ll never forget that.”

Today, Anthony Borges still walks with a limp, a permanent reminder of the five bullets he took to save five (and likely more) lives. He is not just a survivor; he is a hero. His life is one of the most powerful stories of courage, a testament to the fact that heroes are not defined by age, but by their selfless choices in the moments that matter most. We often see animals instinctively protect their young, but Anthony’s conscious choice to sacrifice himself for his friends is a profound display of human love and bravery.