A young man of 18 years killed at least 19 children and two teachers this Tuesday in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, USA
The deceased children were between seven and ten years old. Some of them had just received awards for their great school work. The suspect, identified as Salvador Ramos, was killed by the police at the scene of the crime.
One of the victims is a child from 10 years who loved to dance. Another, a girl who died while trying to call the police.
It is the deadliest shooting recorded in an American elementary school since 18 children and six adults died at school Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut, a decade ago.
There are unconfirmed reports that two children from the same family were murdered.
“The sweetest boy I have ever met”
Some parents had been to Robb Elementary School hours before from the shooting proudly watching her children hold up their honor roll certificates at an awards ceremony. Hours later, they had to return.
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 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”, he added.
While a family member wrote on Facebook: “Please don’t take even a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them”.
-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 am Tuesday. Hours later she would be killed at school. pic.twitter.com/qMO3JSKIFu
—Michael Pegram (@MichaelPNews) May 25,
Xavier Javier López, from years old, he was a great swimmer, as recalled by his cousin Lisa Garza, of 54 years.
“He was a loving child of 10 years that I enjoyed life without knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today”, he said.
“He was very happy, he he loved to dance 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 19, 2022
Uziyah García, 8 years old, was the “ sweetest boy I’ve ever met,” said his grandfather, Manny Renfro.
Renfro remembered the last time he had seen his grandson during school vacations, which they took the opportunity to practice soccer passes together.
“He was a very fast boy and 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”.
“The worst nightmare”
Eva Mireles, from 46 years, she was the first teacher whose death was confirmed. Trained in bilingual and special education, she had 17 years teaching fourth graders in the Uvalde School District.
In a short biography posted on the school district’s website, she wrote about her love of running and hiking. She also pointed out that she had “an understanding, fun and loving family”, made up of her husband, her graduate daughter and “three furry friends”.
According to the media, Mireles’s husband, Rubén Ruiz, a police officer from the same school district, had staged a simulated shooting at the Uvalde institute just two months ago.
His aunt Lydia Martínez Delgado expressed her pain in a post posted on Facebook, saying she was “furious that these shootings continue.” His cousin Cristina Arizmendi Mirelez said that “it is unimaginable… the worst nightmare.”
Meanwhile, a heartbroken father 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 García, from 46 years, 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 a mother of four children and liked to barbecue with her husband and listen to music.
Your son said a friend from law enforcement who was at the scene saw his mother protecting her students as the gunman opened fire, reported the American network NBC.
Another member of the family, his nephew John, wrote on social networks: “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 that have been confirmed over the hours:
- The father of Ellie García said that his daughter, who was years old, she was “a doll and the happiest of all”.
- The mother of Jaliah Nicole Silguero said in a Facebook post that she was heartbroken. “Fly high girl”, wrote Verónica Luevanos.
- Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, who is apparently Jaliah’s cousin according to photographs shared by the family, was recognized as a victim by his aunt. “I still can’t believe we’ll never see you again,” she wrote on Facebook.
- Fourth grader Tess Marie Mata was recognized as one of the victims by her sister, who described her younger brother as a “precious angel”.
- The name of Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed by her cousin, who said that the schoolgirl was “flying high” and asked that people continue to pray for the family.
- The relatives of Alexandria Aniyah “Lexi” Rubio have confirmed her death on social networks. Her cousin described her as a “bright light in everyone’s life”.
- A relative of Makenna Lee Elrod posted that she was among the victims, after Makenna’s father said his daughter was missing.
- A cousin of Maite Rodríguez has confirmed her death on Facebook, calling Maite a “beautiful angel”
- Third-grade student Annabell Guadalupe Rodríguez was also killed, family members told KHOU, a CBS-affiliated television station.
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