They were in the same classroom when an 18-year-old man stormed in and started shooting at them.
It killed 19 children and two teachers in the deadliest shooting at an American elementary school since Connecticut’s Sandy Hook massacre nearly a decade ago.
A family lost two girls. A little girl was shot while she was trying to call the 911 emergency number.
The police identified the attacker as Salvador Ramos, who was killed at the crime scene. Half an hour before carrying out his plan, the young man posted on Facebook that he would shoot his grandmother and that he would then go to a school.
Was the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which this Tuesday became the scene of one of the worst nightmares a family could imagine.
“The sweetest boy I’ve ever met”
Some parents had been at Robb Elementary School hours before the shooting, proudly watching their children hold up their honor roll certificates at an awards ceremony.
Hours later, they had to return hoping to find their children among the survivors.
Amerie Jo Garza was one of the first girls whose death was confirmed. She had just celebrated her tenth birthday just two weeks ago. She was shot while she was trying to call the emergency services, her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, told the American digital newspaper. The Daily Beast.
Amerie was “super outgoing” and “much loved by the teachers,” she added.
Meanwhile, his father, Angel Garza, wrote on Facebook: “Please don’t take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them.”
10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza holds up a school certificate naming her to the honor roll at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Hours later she would be killed at school. pic.twitter.com/qMO3JSKIFu
— Michael Pegram (@MichaelPNews) May 25, 2022
Garza told CNN how she found out that her daughter was one of the fatalities: “I saw a girl covered in blood who was very nervous because her best friend was dead. When I asked her for the name of her friend, she told me ‘Amerie’. She was my daughter, my sweet daughter ».
The man added that his daughter tried to call the police before being attacked.
Xavier Javier López, 10, was a great swimmer, his 54-year-old cousin Lisa recalled.
“He was a loving 10-year-old boy who enjoyed life,” he said.
«He was very cheerful, he loved dancing with his brothers, with his mother. This has affected us all.”
REST IN PEACE, XAVIER LOPEZ.
We’re learning more about the victims of the Uvalde school shooting, and 10-year-old Xavier’s family shared this picture of him. His mother attended his awards ceremony at school shortly before the shooting.
Latest updates: https://t.co/VgPBEX9r0Q pic.twitter.com/Ch5VVA9BsP
— WFAA (@wfaa) May 25, 2022
Uziyah Garcia, 8, was the “sweetest kid I’ve ever met,” said his grandfather, Manny Renfro.
Renfro remembered the last time he had seen his grandson during school breaks when they practiced football passes together.
“He was a very fast boy and he could catch the ball very well,” said his grandfather. “There were certain plays that I made, that he remembered and made them exactly as we had practiced them.”
“Worst Nightmare”
Eva Mireles, 44, was the first teacher whose death was confirmed. She trained in bilingual and special education, she had been teaching fourth grade students in the Uvalde school district for 17 years.
In a short biography published on the school district’s website, he wrote about his hobby of running and hiking. She also noted that she had “an understanding, fun, and loving family,” consisting of her husband, her daughter, and “three furry friends” (dogs).
According to US media, Mireles’s husband, Rubén Ruiz, a police officer from the same school district, had staged a mock shooting at the Uvalde high school just two months earlier.
His aunt Lydia Martínez Delgado expressed her pain in a message posted on Facebook. She said she was “furious that these shootings continue.” Her cousin Cristina Arizmendi Mirelez described the event as something “unimaginable… the worst nightmare.”
Meanwhile, the mother of a student of the teacher paid tribute to Mireles on Twitter.
My daughter’s beautiful teacher was the teacher who was killed in Uvalde, TX. Eva (Ms Mireles) taught Gabby in elementary school. She was a beautiful person & dedicated teacher. She believed in Gabby & went above & beyond to teach her as you can see below. There are no words. pic.twitter.com/qMlVoVEUrY
— Audrey (@audreymg0928) May 24, 2022
The second teacher killed in the attack is Irma Garcia, 46, who had been teaching at Robb Elementary School for 23 years. She was nominated for teacher of the year by her school district in 2019. She and Mireles had been working together for five years.
Married for 24 years, she was the mother of four children and liked to barbecue with her husband and listen to music.
Her son said a law enforcement friend who was on the scene saw his mother shielding the students as the gunman opened fire, NBC reported.
Another family member, her nephew John, wrote on social media: “My aunt didn’t make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her class.”
«IRMA GARCÍA IS HER NAME and she died as a HEROINE. She was loved by many and she will be greatly missed.”
The identities of other victims have been communicated by family and friends on social networks. An official list has not yet been published.
- José Flores’ death was confirmed by his uncle, Christopher Salazar.
- Tess Marie Mata’s sister fired her on Twitter. “My beautiful angel, you are loved very deeply.”
My precious angel you are loved so deeply. In my eyes you are not a victim but a survivor. I love you always and past forever baby sister, may your wings soar higher then you could ever dream. Till we meet again Tess Marie, love your big sissy???? pic.twitter.com/ziEAe6bsFE
— Faith Mata (@faithmaa) May 25, 2022
- The aunt of 10-year-old Rojelio Torres said: “We are devastated and heartbroken.” «She was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person»
- Relatives and friends of Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio shared their pain on social networks due to the death of the girl.
This is my little all star Lexi. She was such a bright light in everyone’s life and was a badass ball player. You left this world way too soon ,and you will forever be missed. We shared the love of the game ,and I will forever miss my biggest fan. Love you bby cousin,fly high???? pic.twitter.com/8yu89IfxAs
— Briana✨ (@bri_mataa) May 25, 2022
- Ellie Garcia’s father said his daughter, who was 10, was “a doll and the happiest of them all.”
- Eliahana Cruz is another of the victims. Her grandfather told ABC that her granddaughter was a “beautiful girl with a lot of energy.”
- Navaeh Bravo’s cousin thanked everyone for their prayers. “Our Navaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels ».
- Annabell Rodríguez died alongside her cousin Jackie Cazares. The girls were friends and classmates.
- The death of 10-year-old Jayce Luevanos was confirmed by relatives. “I still can’t believe we’ll never see you again,” his aunt wrote on Facebook.
- Relatives of Alexandria Aniyah “Lexi” Rubio have confirmed her death on social media. Her cousin described her as a “bright light in everyone’s life.”
- Jailah Nicole Silguero, 11, died alongside her cousin Jayce Luevanos. Her mother wrote in a Facebook post that she was heartbroken. “She flies high, girl.”
- Makenna Lee Elrod’s sister wrote on Twitter: “My little sister has finally been found in a classroom.” “I ask you to hug her loved ones”
- A cousin of Maite Rodríguez said that the little girl was a “beautiful angel” and another member of the family, Raquel Silva, said that she was a “sweet little girl”.
- Jackie Cazares died alongside her cousin Annabelle Rodriguez. He was in fourth grade. She had made her first communion two weeks ago.
- Alithia Ramírez’s father desperately searched for his daughter before being notified of her death.
