The lives destroyed by the Texas school shooting

This is what is known so far about the victims killed by Salvador Ramos: from the eight-year-old baseball fan to the 46-year-old teacher who was a mother to four

A memorial to the victims of the shooting at Rob Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.Mónica González Islas

There were a couple of days left before the start of summer vacation at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a town of 16,000 inhabitants located 130 kilometers from San Antonio. That moment, which children cherish as one of the most anticipated times of the year, turned into an unfathomable tragedy for the families of 19 school students and two teachers on Tuesday, when an 18-year-old named Salvador Ramos broke into a fourth-grade classroom at around 11.30am and opened fire on the children. A police officer later killed Ramos.

The identities of the victims have been slowly emerging, as relatives begin to share the details of their personal tragedies on social networks and national media outlets. This is what is known so far about the victims of Uvalde.

Eva Mireles (44)

She was the children’s teacher, and had been teaching in the Uvalde school district for 17 years. She was married to a school police officer. On the website of the elementary school, she welcomed her students to an academic year that would end up being their last, with this message: “Welcome to the fourth grade! We have a wonderful year ahead of us! I have a supportive, fun and loving family. I love running, hiking, and now you just might see me riding a bike!!”

Irma García (46)

She helped Mireles with teaching duties. A mother of four, she had been teaching for the last 23 years. A nephew said that she liked barbecues and music, and that she died trying to defend her students from Ramos.

Xavier Lopez (10)

His mother, Felicha Martínez, told ‘The Washington Post’ that just a few hours before the shooting she had attended an awards ceremony at school. “He was funny, never serious, and his smile. That smile I will never forget. It would always cheer anyone up.” A cousin, Lisa Garza, has added that he was looking forward to summer, which he planned to spend “swimming non-stop.”

Uziyah García (8)

He is the youngest victim identified so far. His grandfather, who broke the news, described him as "the sweetest little boy" and a fan of baseball.

Amerie Jo Garza (10)

She was the first to die, according to local media reports. Ramos walked into the classroom and told the kids: "You're going to die." Garza tried to call 911 and Ramos shot her without a word. “She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood," her great-grandmother told The Daily Beast. Her father Ángel Garza wrote on social media: 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."

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez (10)

Annabell was a third-grade student. She was killed alongside her cousin, Jacklyn Cazares. Annabell’s parents spent most of Tuesday going between the hospital and Rob Elementary School to confirm their daughter was one of the victims.

Jose Flores Jr. (10)

Jose loved playing baseball and video games. His uncle, Christopher Salazar, confirmed the death of his nephew on Tuesday. “He was a very happy little boy. He loved both his parents … and loved to laugh and have fun.”

Eliahana ‘Eliajha’ Cruz Torres (10)

Eliahana’s family looked for her all Tuesday night until they were able to confirm she had been killed in the school shooting.

Ellie Lugo (10)

“It’s hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour… but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn’t make it home tonight!!!” her father, Steven Garcia, wrote on Facebook. "Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever… "

Miranda Mathis (11)

Miranda’s death was confirmed on Facebook by her cousin Deanna Miller. Miller’s children were also at the school the day of the attack, but escaped by jumping out of the window.


Layla Salazar (10)

"We love you baby girl Daddy is sorry I wasn't there to protect you when you needed me the most,” wrote Vincent Salazar, the 10-year-old’s father, in a Facebook post. "We love you so much fly high my little angel fly high."

Jackie Cazares (10)

Jackie Cazares was 10 years old. Her father, Jacinto Cazares, describes her as “full of life and love.”

Nevaeh Bravo (10)

The death of Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed by her cousin, Grace Ayala, on Facebook. “Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above,” she wrote in the message. "We love you Nevaeh very much princess."

Alithia Ramirez (10)

Alithia’s father shared a photo on Tuesday of his daughter with angel wings to confirm she was one of the victims of the Texas school shooting.

Cousins Jayce Carmelo Luévanos and Jailah Nicole Silguero (10)

The death of the cousins was confirmed by Jayce Carmelo Luévanos’s mother. She had lost her father a week earlier.

Lexi Rubio (10)

Lexi’s mother, Kimberly Rubio, confirmed that her daughter was one of Salvador Ramos’s victims, adding that the young girl won a prize for academic achievement the day she was murdered. "We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school," Rubio wrote. "We had no idea this was goodbye."

Rogelio Torres (10)

Rogelio’s aunt, Preciosa Pérez, said the family waited 12 hours for confirmation that the young boy was among the victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Makenna Elrod (10)

Makenna’s family also spoke of the terrible wait to have their worst fears confirmed.
“It’s pretty sad what this world’s coming to,” Brandon Elrod, the 10-year-old’s father, told the TV station KTRK.

Maite Yuleana (10)

On the morning of the shooting, Maite was celebrated as an honor roll student. In a photo taken just before the massacre, she appears smiling with two certificates in her hands.

Tess Marie Mata (10)

Tess was a fourth-grade student at Robb Elementary School. Her family have grieved the loss of the young girl in messages on Facebook. In a post, her eldest sister Faith Mata wrote: “My sweet baby sister, I would’ve never thought I would be typing something like this. I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger.

“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.”


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