The victims of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas include a “loving 10-year-old little boy” and an “adventurous” teacher who was a caring mother and wife.
Officials in Uvalde on Wednesday notified all the families who lost loved ones in Tuesday’s slayings that included 19 children and two teachers, CNN reports.
Those numbers may change as authorities provide updates, but what is known so far is that the victims were in the same Grade 4 classroom at Robb Elementary School.
Details about the victims are beginning to emerge. Here is what we know so far.
Uziyah Garcia
Uziyah Garcia was the “sweetest little boy” Manny Renfro has ever known.
“I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid,” Renfro told The Associated Press about the 10-year-old boy who was among those killed.
Renfro last saw Uziyah in San Angelo, Texas during spring break.
“We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so well,” he said.
“There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practised.”
Amerie Jo Garza
Amerie Jo Garza, 10, was identified by her father, Angel, as one of the victims in a Facebook post that has now gone viral.
“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,” he said.
That came as an update to a post he published hours earlier, asking for help finding his daughter.
“I don’t ask for much or hardly even post on here but please It’s been 7 hours and I still haven’t heard anything on my love,” he said.
“Please fb help me find my daughter.”
Ellie Garcia
Ellie Garcia “was a doll and was the happiest ever,” her father Steven Garcia posted on Facebook.
“I was gonna DJ for her at her party like she wanted me too,” Garcia said about his 10-year-old daughter.
Photos shared on his feed show a young girl who loved basketball and church.
Ellie’s mother, Jennifer Lugo, wrote several posts Tuesday asking about her daughter’s safety and for help finding her. She then posted her heart was shattered “to pieces,” presumably after Ellie’s death was confirmed.
“I love you baby girl I will never stop thinking of you!!!” she wrote.
Jailah Nicole Silguero
Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10, did not want to go to school on Tuesday, her mother Veronica Luevanos told Univision. She seemed to sense something was going to happen that day, Veronica added.
Luevanos wrote on Facebook on Wednesday she was “heartbroken.” Jailah’s cousin also died in the shooting.
“I’m so heartbroken. My baby I love u so much mamas don’t ever forget that watch over me daddy and your sisters and big bro,” she wrote. “Fly high baby girl.”
Tess Marie Mata
Tess Marie Mata was named by her sister on Twitter as one of the victims in Tuesday’s massacre.
“My precious angel you are loved so deeply. In my eyes you are not a victim but a survivor,” Faith Mata said in what is now a viral post.
“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.”
Eva Mireles
Eva Mireles was a Grade 4 teacher at Robb Elementary School, according to the institution’s website. The 44-year-old mother and wife was an educator for 17 years who loved running and hiking.
“She was adventurous. I would definitely say those wonderful things about her,” said 34-year-old relative Amber Ybarra, of San Antonio. “She is definitely going to be very missed.”
Mireles’ daughter, Adalynn, posted on Twitter Wednesday a tribute to her mom.
“I will take care of our dogs and I will forever say your name so you are always remembered, Eva Mireles, 4th grade teacher at Robb Elementary who selflessly jumped in front of her students to save their lives,” she wrote.
“My heart will forever be broken. My best friend, my twin was taken from me. Thank you for loving me in the best ways and for raising me to become so strong.”
Mireles was co-teaching with Irma Garcia for five years, the school’s website added.
Irma Garcia
Irma Garcia was a mother to four children and had been married to her husband for 24 years, Robb Elementary said on its website.
Her son, Christian, confirmed her death, NBC reports.
Garcia was in her 23rd year of teaching, all of them being at Robb Elementary. She loved to barbecue with her husband, listen to music and take country cruises to Concan, Texas.
Xavier James Lopez
Xavier James Lopez was a “loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life,” his cousin Lisa Garza told The Associated Press. Garza said Xavier was eagerly awaiting a summer of swimming.
“He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom,” she said. “This has just taken a toll on all of us.”
A verified GoFundMe page for Lopez’s funeral created by a relative had raised roughly $US 100,000 by Wednesday afternoon.
Makenna Lee Elrod
Like Lopez, Makenna Lee Elrod, 10, was a fourth grader at Robb Elementary. She had the “biggest heart” and “her smile would light up a room”, her aunt wrote on a verified GoFundMe page.
“Words cannot express the pain my sister and our family is going through,” Allison McCullough said.
The family had been desperately searching for Elrod before she was confirmed dead Tuesday night.
“My sweet innocent baby sister… my heart will forever break for you my love… I love you with my whole heart …. have fun with your angels up in heavy baby girl,” Elrod’s older sister wrote on Twitter.
Alexandria Aniyah Rubio
Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was beaming with pride on Tuesday in a family photo posted on Facebook by her mother showing the girl holding an “A” Honor Roll certificate she earned for excellent school grades. Hours after the photo was taken, she was shot dead in her classroom.
“We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school,” said Alexandria’s mother Kimberly Mata-Rubio in the Facebook post. “We had no idea this was goodbye.”
Jayce Carmelo Luevanos
The death of Jayce Carmelo Luevanos was confirmed by his aunt, BBC reported. His cousin Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting.
“Still can’t believe that we’re never gonna see you again,” she wrote on Facebook, according to BBC.
A verified GoFundMe page is raising funds for Luevanos’s funeral.
“We are all deeply saddened by the news we received from the Robb School shooting,” Jesus Cardona, who created the fundraiser, wrote. “The Cardona family is asking for any and all help both monetarily, for funeral expenses, as well as prayers for their family.”
Alithia Ramirez
Alithia Ramirez was among those killed in Tuesday’s mass shooting. Her father, Ryan Ramirez, had posted on Facebook that he was trying to find Alithia by calling “all the hospitals”. He later changed his profile picture showing his daughter with angel wings.
“My heart hurts and I’m just torn with all the evil in this world,” wrote Ernesto Morales, a relative, who has created a GoFundMe page, for the family.
Nevaeh Bravo
Another fourth-grader, Nevaeh Bravo, was among the victims. Her death was confirmed by a cousin in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“Thank you everyone for the prayers, our Nevaeh has been found! She is flying with the angels above. We love you Nevaeh very much princess! Please everyone continue to keep her parents and our family in your prayers,” wrote Emily Grace Ayala.
On social media, pictures of smiling children have been posted with their families begging for information. Classes at Robb Elementary had been winding down for the year and each school day had a theme. Tuesday’s was Footloose and Fancy. Students were supposed to wear a nice outfit with fun or fancy shoes.
Multiple children did survive the shooting, but were injured, a Texas public safety official said on Wednesday.
“We do know that there were multiple children that did survive, that were injured. I do not have the exact number at this time,” said Lieutenant Chris Olivarez in an interview with Fox News.
Three children and an adult were being treated at a San Antonio hospital, where two of them — a 66-year-old woman and 10-year-old girl — were listed as being in serious condition.
More information about the victims is expected to emerge as the investigation unfolds.
— With files from The Associated Press and Reuters
This story has been updated to correct the middle name of Xavier Lopez from Javier to James, and the age of Uziyah Garcia from eight to 10.
Comments