BREAKING NEWS | May 30, 2022
At least 19 children and two teachers were killed in a school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. The gunman– identified by officials as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, a former student at Uvalde High School– was killed by law enforcement after the shooting took place. Here's what we know so far about the victims who have been publicly identified by family members:
Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, 10: Kimberly Mata-Rubio, mother of Alexandria, posted on Facebook, “My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.”
Alithia Ramirez, 10: Father Ryan Ramirez said on Facebook that he had been searching for his fourth-grade daughter after he heard about the shooting. Ramirez told San Antonio TV station KSAT that Alithia loved to draw and wanted to be an artist. She’d recently submitted a drawing to the “Doodle for Google” contest. 2022 Texas gubernatorial candidate and former US representative Beto O'Rourke visited the girl's family the day after the shooting, sharing an Instagram post of the girl and her artwork.
Amerie Jo Garza, 10: “Thank you everyone for the prayers and help trying to find my baby. She’s been found. My little love is now flying 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. Watch over your baby brother for me.” Amerie's father Angel Garza wrote on Facebook on May 24.
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10: Her sister, Lidia Anthony Luna, wrote on Facebook that Annabell was one of the victims of the shooting. “My little sister didn’t make it she’s no longer with us my poor sweet little girl. Why god why these sweet babies who didn’t deserve this who were all happy for summer vacation.”
Ehliana Cruz Torres, 10: A woman who identified herself as Ehliana’s aunt told a reporter with KENS-TV News that her niece was a 10-year-old fourth-grader and a softball player, excited to play her final game that was scheduled later on that day. According to the woman, who didn’t giver her name, said Ehliana’s mother Sandra Torres, her sister, had been searching for her throughout the day. “She was very excited about her softball game today. She was kind of nervous,” her aunt said. “She was excited because they were … going to announce the ones that made it to All-Stars. And she was also saying, like, ‘What if I make it? I’m going to be so nervous.’ And I was like, ‘Girl, you got this. You’re going to be good at it. You got this.’ So she was excited.
Eliana “Ellie” Garcia, 9: Eliana was the second-eldest of five girls in her family. According to The LA Times and her grandfather, she was a “helper around the house who loved ‘Encanto’, cheerleading and basketball.” Her grandfather also said “She dreamed of wearing a purple dress to her quinceañera and becoming a teacher.”Eliana’s family struggled to explain the shooting to her 5-year-old sister, who saw her parents on television Tuesday night.
Jacklyn “Jackie” Cazares, 10: According to San Antonio TV station KSAT, Jacklyn and Annabell Rodriguez were cousins. “She was full of life and she touched a lot of people,” her father said, describing his daughter as his “little firecracker.” Jackie had recently celebrated her First Holy Communion.
Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10: Veronica Luevanos, Jailah’s mother, told Univision that Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok. “I took her to school, but she didn’t want to go. She told her father, ‘Can I stay home?’” Luevanos said.“I think she knew something would happen.”
Jayce Luevanos, 10: Jayce Luevanos was Jailah's cousin. Veronica Luevanos said her brother, Jayce‘s father, was taking Jayce's death hard. Their uncle Unberto Gonzalez wrote on Facebook “My babies going to miss them like crazy!!! We luv y’all so much!!! I’m just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!”
Jose Flores, 10: Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post that his 10-year-old nephew was killed in the shooting. “I love you and I miss you,” Salazar wrote in a post on Facebook. According to his uncle, he loved to play baseball. “He was a very happy little boy. He loved both his parents … and loved to laugh and have fun.”
Layla Salazar, 10: Layla Salazar’s father told the Associated Press that the 10-year-old had won six races at the school’s field day. “She was just a whole lot of fun,” said Salazar, adding that his daughter liked dancing to TikTok videos and singing along with him to the Guns N’ Roses song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” every morning on the way to school.
Makenna Lee Elrod, 10: Makenna’s father, Brandon Elrod, told ABC News that he had been searching for his daughter when he was given the news. “Pretty sad,” he said, choking back tears. “Really sad. I don’t know what this world is coming to.”
Maite Rodriguez, 10: “It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting we are deeply saddened by the lose of this sweet smart little girl” wrote Raquel Silva on a Facebook post on the evening of May 25. “Our hearts are shattered.”
Maranda Mathis, 11: “My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers” wrote Deanna Miller on Facebook along with a picture of Maranda with angel wings.
Nevaeh Bravo, 10: Nevaeh Bravo’s cousin posted on social media after the shooting to ask for the public’s help locating the girl. Around 9 p.m., she wrote on Twitter: “Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy. Thank you for the support and help,” she wrote. “Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn’t deserve this.”
Rojelio Torres, 10: “We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.” Torres’ aunt, Precious Perez, told KSAT. “Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres, my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy.”
Tess Marie Mata, 10: Her sister, Faith Mata, wrote in a Facebook post “I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,” she wrote. “I’m sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I’m confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I’m angry because a coward took you from us. Sissy I miss you so much, I just want to hold you and tell you how pretty you are, I want to take you outside and practice softball, I want to go on one last family vacation, I want to hear your contagious laugh, and I want you to hear me tell you how much I love you,” wrote Faith.
Uziyah Garcia, 10: Manny Renfro, Uziyah’s grandfather, told The LA Times that “He was the type of kid that ... could get interested in anything in five minutes. Just the perfect kid, as far as I’m concerned,” he also added that he liked football, baseball and video games. He mentioned that Uziyah and his two sisters had lived with him and his grandmother for more than five years and he “never had an ounce of trouble” out of him. Sergio Garcia, the boy’s father, remembered his son as a loving and gentle boy who loved karaoke, the video game Fortnite and bouncing on trampolines. The father sobbed as he remembered teaching his son how to ride a bike and playing sports together. Uziyah, who doesn’t live with his father, planned to spend the summer with him this week. Instead, Sergio Garcia waited to hear news about retrieving his son’s body.
Xavier Lopez, 10: “He was funny, never serious and his smile, that smile I will never forget. It would always cheer anyone up.” Felicha Martinez, Xavier’s mother, told the Washington Post. His mother also described him as “so full of life”, she mentioned he’d always be cracking jokes and dancing cumbias.
Eva Mireles, 44: Eva Mireles, a fourth-grade teacher who had worked for the school district for about 17 years, was one of the two adult victims. Mireles’ aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, said in a message to The LA Times that she was furious to lose her niece in such a “tragic” and “senseless” way. In a post on Twitter, Mireles’ daughter described her mother as “the half that makes me whole." "You are so known by many now and I’m so happy that people know your name and that beautiful face of yours and they know what a hero looks like,” she wrote, adding: “My heart will forever be broken.”
Irma Garcia: Irma Garcia had been a teacher at Robb Elementary for 23 years. “My tia did not make it,” John Martinez wrote on Twitter about his aunt, a fourth-grade teacher. She had been married for 24 years and was the mother of four children. After visiting his wife’s memorial, Garcia’s husband died of a sudden heart attack. Garcia’s age has not been confirmed.
For a resource on aid efforts for the victims and survivors of the Uvalde tragedy, and to donate to the families, visit GoFundMe's webpage of verified fundraisers at: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/donate-to-texas-elementary-school-shooting-relief
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of hurting themselves or others, or needs assistance in the wake of this tragedy, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255