7-Year-Old Hero Calls 911, Saves Family

March 10, 2010— -- Most 7-year-olds only dream of being a superhero. But a Norwalk, Calif. boy identified only as Carlos is being hailed as a real one after acting quickly when three gunmen burst through an unlocked door in his house.

The intruders allegedly threatened Carlos' mom and dad but he grabbed his little sister and a phone, hid in the bathroom and called 911.

"There's some guys," he said. "They're going to kill my mom and dad, can you come please. ... Can you come really fast? PLEASE, PLEASE."

Los Angeles County sheriff's dispatcher Monique Patino called in the cavalry, assuring Carlos the police were on their way.

He kept the phone line open even when the gunmen evidently discovered him and his sister.

But it turned out the gunmen had met their match. When Carlos bravely told them he had 911 on the line, the intruders fled. No one was hurt and nothing was stolen.

Carlos' neighborhood in Norwalk, Calif. has had a rash of burglaries. The three suspects have not yet been located.

Patino said she was terrified.

"Every call is different," Patino said, "but this one was the most horrific for me. I got really shooken up."

At a press conference Wednesday evening, Patino and Carlos met for the first time.

The two hugged. Patino had tears in her eyes as she comforted Carlos when he retold the story to reporters.

When asked how Patino helped him, Carlos said by "bringing the cops here ... lots of cops. ... Thank you, Monique."

Carlos said he and his mom had practiced calling 911 in case of an emergency.

Patino has two kids of her own, ages 7 and 8, both of whom, she says, know what to do in an emergency.

It's a lesson that may have saved Carlos' entire family.

Police said the bravery shown by young Carlos should be an inspiration to everyone.

"What the boy did is just remarkable," said Lt. Al Reyes of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Norwalk Station.