This is the moment a brave mum who is actually an off-duty policewoman shot an armed robber who drew his weapon on parents and children outside a school in Brazil on Saturday

She can be seen reaching into her handbag to grab her service weapon and firing three shots into his stomach before kicking his .38 revolver away and turning him over.

Parents caught up in the violent scene fled with their kids – who had been attending a Mother’s Day celebration at the school in Suzano ahead of the event, which is marked on May 13 in Brazil.

The criminal was rushed to hospital after Katia made an emergency call from her mobile but died from his injures soon after arrival.

Sao Paolo governor Marcio Franca visited military police officer Katia, 42, at her station yesterday to thank her for her bravery in saving the lives of other parents at her daughter’s school.

He said in a tweet after meeting the mum-of-two, whose daughter attends at the school, at her work HQ: “Her courage and precision yesterday saved mums and daughter at a school entrance.

“Katia acted for two important reasons; in defence of society and in defence of her daughters, her family. I want to thank her for her bravery.”