Anthony Borges, a 15-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, displayed extraordinary heroism during the school shooting on February 14, 2018.
As the gunman opened fire, Anthony used his body to barricade a classroom door, protecting approximately 20 fellow students. In doing so, he was shot five times - in his legs and back - sustaining severe injuries. His actions earned him the moniker “the real Iron Man” from his peers and community .
Following the incident, Anthony underwent more than a dozen surgeries and faced a challenging recovery journey. He was the last Parkland survivor to be released from the hospital, approximately six weeks after the shooting .
In the aftermath, Anthony and his family pursued legal action against the Broward County School District, citing failures in school safety protocols. In 2021, they reached a settlement to assist with his ongoing medical expenses .
In a groundbreaking legal move in 2024, Anthony secured the rights to the shooter’s name, Nikolas Cruz, through a civil settlement. This agreement prevents Cruz from profiting from his crimes or speaking publicly about them without Anthony’s consent .