Two quick-thinking barbers in Hartford, Connecticut have been hailed as heroes after rescuing a young girl from wandering into heavy traffic on a busy road. The incident occurred on April 10, 2024, when the barbers were preparing for their usual midweek rush at LookSharp Barber Shop.
The shop’s owner, Osvaldo Lugo, originally hails from Puerto Rico and has been operating in Hartford for three years. His colleague, Rafael Santana, noticed a little girl running toward the middle of the busy street without any adult supervision. Concerned, he voiced his concern to Mr. Lugo, prompting him to take action.
I’ve been in this area for three years, in business, and I have never seen kids play in the middle of the street,” Mr. Lugo told a local newspaper. Seeing how fast the girl was running, he put his clippers down and took off after her. You make sure you run as fast as you can. Because you only got one shot.
Security footage captured by LookSharp cameras shows Mr. Lugo sprinting outside to catch up with the child, with Mr. Santana following close behind. The barber quickly scooped her into his arms and found her mother nearby.
When she saw me, and we locked eyes, she realized that it was her child in my arms,” he said. She looked at me embarrassed but scared, but at the same time grateful. and] said, ‘Thank you.
The barber, who spent 10 years in jail before being released six years ago, has since turned his life around. While incarcerated, Mr. Lugo took business and psychology courses that allowed him to learn about himself and the human mind. He credits this education for helping him grow as a person and become successful in his career.
I have changed my ways and now God blessed me with a business, a house, a property, and a community to serve,” he said. So it was only fair for me to see them in distress and do the same thing.
Many in the Hartford community have praised Mr. Lugo and his colleague for their quick thinking and heroic actions that day. While the barber remains humble about being called a hero, he is proud of himself for stepping up when needed.
The word hero is too big, the responsibility behind that word, it was too big,” Mr. Lugo said. But all I know is that I’m proud of myself for getting involved.
