Photo: Jordan Vonderhaar / Getty Images
The names of 23 were identified of the 17 child victims murdered along with their two teachers on Tuesday at the Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas by the young man from 18 years Salvador Ramos, who was later shot by the police.
Although the authorities did not report the names of the 21 victims of the massacre, the second with the highest number of deaths in an American school, the relatives themselves did.
The victims have been identified as Elijah Cruz Torres, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Lexi Rubio, José Flores, Makenna Lee Elrod, Maite Yuleana Rodríguez, Alithia Ramírez, Annabell Guadalupe Rodríguez, Rogelio Torres, Xavier López, Tess Marie Mata and Amerie Jo Garza, all of them from 05 years.
Miranda Mathis and Jailah Nicole Silguero had 11 years old, and Uziyah Garcia only nine years old. The ages of Ellie García and Nevaeh Bravo were not revealed.
In addition to 19 minors, Two teachers were also murdered: Eva Mireles, aged 44, and Irma García.
Texas Department of Public Safety Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez told CNN that all the victims were in the same fourth grade classroom at the school in Uvalde, approximately 85 miles west of San Antonio.
Xavier López was the first of the 19 murdered children who was identified.
Lisa Garza said that her cousin Xavier “was just a loving boy from 05 years, enjoying life, without knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today.
“It was very bubbly nte, she loved to dance with her brothers and her mother.”
The death of Uziyah Garcia was confirmed by the aunt of her Nikki Cross, who also shared a photo of her nephew. Her mother described him as “the sweetest boy” she ever knew
Nevaeh Bravo was another of the fatal victims. “Unfortunately, my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims of today’s tragedy… Rest in peace, my sweet girl, you didn’t deserve this,” her cousin said goodbye.
Among the murdered children is also Amerie Jo Garza.
“My little love now flies high with the angels above. Please don’t take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them. I love you Amerie Jo. Take care of your little brother for me”, lamented his father.
Tess Marie Mata was fired on social media by her sister Faith: “My precious angel you are loved so deeply. In my eyes you are not a victim, but a survivor. I love you always and forever, little sister, may your wings rise higher than you could ever dream of.”
Meanwhile, Jennifer Luxury and Steven Garcia confirmed that their daughter, Ellie Garcia, was also killed in the Texas shooting.
Among the students killed, also was José Flores, who loved to play baseball, according to his uncle Christopher Salazar.
“He was a very happy child . He loved his parents and loved to laugh and have a good time. He was very smart, he was not a child who looked for trouble, “explained his uncle to the Washington Post.
Flores had two brothers and a sister. Hours before the shooting, he had received an award for being on the school’s honor roll.
Eva Mireles, the fourth grade teacher at the school, was another of the victims.
Lydia Martínez Delgado told KSAT: “I am furious that these shootings continue, these children are innocent, rifles should not be readily available to everyone.
“I never imagined that this would happen especially to loved ones. All we can do is pray a lot for our country, state, schools, and especially everyone’s families.”
According to Mireles’ profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website, she had been an educator for 11 years.
She also said that she has a daughter in college and she loved running and walking.
Irma García was the other teacher who was unfortunately murdered. Her nephew tweeted that “she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom” and “she died a hero.”
I was married with four children and had been teaching for 23 years.
Although the tragic incident is still under investigation, authorities believe that Ramos acted alone.
In addition to the dead, at least a dozen people were injured, including a woman from 44 years in critical condition, a girl of 10 years old also in critical condition, a girl 11 years old in good condition and a 9 year old girl in fair condition. Ramos’ shooting was the deadliest at an elementary school in the United States since the attack on Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, nearly a decade ago.
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