Victor Cruz visits family of slain 6-year-old
Victor Cruz celebrates a touchdown during a game against the New Orleans Saints. (Dec. 9, 2012) Credit: David Pokress
A day after Jack Pinto was buried in a jersey with Victor Cruz's name on the back, the Giants wide receiver visited Newtown, Conn., Tuesday to deliver his game-used cleats and gloves that bore Pinto's name.
Cruz honored the memory of the 6-year-old, one of 20 children killed in Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, by writing Pinto's name on his equipment. On one cleat he wrote "Jack Pinto My Hero" and on another he wrote "R.I.P. Jack Pinto." His gloves also had Pinto's name along with the phrase "This one is 4 U!"
"Much love to the entire Pinto family," Cruz posted on Twitter Tuesday. "Great people with huge hearts. I'm sorry again for your loss. Looking at life through a different lens."
According to The Associated Press, while Cruz met with Pinto's family in their home for about 45 minutes, several elementary school-age children played touch football in the front yard. Many wore Giants jerseys as they laughed, smiled and hugged.
The children and their families left after several hours. Kids carried autographed Giants footballs and jerseys.
Cruz learned that Pinto was a big fan of his on Saturday and, through a network of mutual friends, was able to speak with the family on Saturday night, a day before the Giants' game in Atlanta. While all of the Giants remembered the victims with a moment of silence in their meetings and before the game and wore the initials "S.H.E.S." for Sandy Hook Elementary School on their helmets, Cruz dedicated the game to Pinto.
"It was very humbling just to hear how big of a fan he was, for them to think about putting my jersey on him for the services" an emotional Cruz said on Sunday.
