New York dad who shielded children from gunfire lost job due to injuries

Anthony Jefferson caught on camera diving to protect children

A New York dad who shielded his children from gunfire lost his job because of the injuries he sustained.

Anthony Jefferson was caught on camera diving to protect the three youngsters as chaos unfolded at a car dealership in the city’s Bronx borough.

Mr Jefferson, 39, was an innocent bystander when the gunfire erupted and was struck by a bullet to his the right thigh, according to Pix11.

According to a GoFundMe account set up for Mr Jefferson,  he faces surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his leg.

Mr Jefferson’s wife now says that her husband’s injuries had left him temporarily unable to work and he had been fired from both of his jobs as a construction worker and head painter at a maintenance company.

Family friend Serena Wingate, who set up the GoFundMe account, said that Mr Jefferson was at the dealership shopping for a new car for his wife as a birthday surprise.

None of Mr Jefferson’s children, aged six, five and two, were injured.

He was sitting with his kids in the waiting area when two hooded gunmen dressed in black stormed into the building and opened fire at a man.

The video shows Mr Jefferson pulling his children off the couch and laying on top of them to provide cover.

NYPD says officers are still trying to identify the shooters.