UVALDE, Tx. – Authorities are releasing information on the 19 students and at least two teachers who were shot dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24.
In the deadliest elementary school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, several innocent children and at least two teachers had their lives brought to a tragic end, just days before summer vacation.
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It’s a tragedy that has shocked people nationwide, with thousands collectively grieving the lives taken too soon by an 18-year-old gunman.
Many of the victims were just under 10 years old.
All of the victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at the time of the shooting, according to the Associated Press.
Here’s what we know about the victims so far, according to our sister station KSAT:
Irma Garcia
The life of Irma Garcia, a fourth-grade teacher who taught for 23 years, was brought to a tragic end on Tuesday.
Known for putting her students first, Garcia was one of 19 teachers in San Antonia chosen in 2019 as a finalist for the 2018-19 Trinity Price for Excellence in Teaching, which honors educators with an uncompromising commitment to their students.
Irma had four children and loved barbequing with her husband of 24 years and listening to music, according to her profile.
Her school biography also shows that she taught alongside Eva Mireles, who was also killed in Tuesday’s shooting, for five years.
Irma’s son says a friend in law enforcement who was at the scene saw her shielding her students.
Eva Mireles
Eva Mireles, 44, is remembered as a dedicated teacher as well as a mother and wife who went above and beyond for those around her.
A relative of Mireles told the New York Times that Mireles was “trying to protect her students” in her final moments.
Mireles’ cousin, Amber Ybarra, 34, of San Antonio, wasn’t at all surprised by Mireles’ act of bravery.
“She is a hero,” she said Wednesday on NBC’s “TODAY” show.
She went on to add, “She was adventurous. I would definitely say those wonderful things about her. She is definitely going to be very missed.”
Her bio on the school’s employee page shows that she was married to a Uvalde CISD police officer and had one daughter, Adalynn Ruiz.
Ruiz posted to Facebook about the tragic loss, referring to her mother as “the half that makes me whole.”
To the half that makes me whole , Mom, I have no words to describe how I feel right now, tomorrow,...
Posted by Adalynn Ruiz on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Her aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, expressed her anger with the horrific event.
“My niece, Eva Mireles, approximately 17 yr teacher for UCISD along with another teacher and 18 children lost her lives to a senseless tragic shooting. I’m furious that these shootings continue, these children are innocent, rifles should not be easily available to all. This is my hometown a small community of less than 20,000. I never imagined this would happen especially to loved ones. not all the facts have been released yet all we can do is pray hard for our country, state, schools and especially the families of all,” she said.
Nevaeh Bravo
Naveah Bravo, 10, was one of 19 children killed during the mass shooting on May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Her aunt said in a Facebook post that the young girl’s name is “heaven” spelled backward.
Makenna Lee Elrod
Makenna Lee Elrod was among those killed in the school shooting on May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, ABC News reports.
Her aunt, Allison McCullough, says Makenna enjoyed playing gymnastics, singing and dancing.
“Her smile would light up a room,” McCullough says.
Jose Flores Jr.
Jose Flores Jr. lost his life on May 24 in the tragic incident.
Just hours before the shooting, Jose learned that he earned honor roll for the school year.
Eliahna ‘Ellie’ Garcia
Eliahna “Ellie” Garcia, the second oldest of five girls, was described as “very happy and very outgoing” by her aunt, Siria Arizmendi, according to the Associated Press.
The 10-year-old “loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family,” an elementary school teacher in the same district said of Eliahna.
Tess Mata
Tess Mata had a smile that would light up the room, her mother says.
Mata had her sight set on Disney World and had been saving her money for a family trip, the Washington Post reports.
She was also a fan of the Houston Astros.
Her mother wants Tess to be remembered for “the awesome little girl that she was.”
Maranda Mathis
Maranda Mathis, 11, died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022.
In her obituary, she was remembered for her heart and loving spirit.
“She was sweet, smart and a shy tomboy who enjoyed being within nature and spending time outdoors,” her family wrote in her obituary. “Those who knew Maranda, knew her great imagination and often expressed her love for unicorns and mermaids, especially if they were her favorite color purple.”
Maite Rodriguez
Maite Rodriguez had aspirations of attending Texas A&M University and one day, earning a degree in marine biology.
Raquel Silva made a Facebook post about the tragedy, asking for comfort and support during such trying times:
“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...
Posted by Raquel Silva on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
If you want to support Maite’s family, you can donate here.
Alexandria Aniyah Rubio
Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10, had received the good citizen award from her school not long before the shooting, according to her family.
Alexandria, who went by Lexi, was also an honor student at the school.
“My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll,” the girl’s mother, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, wrote on Facebook. “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.”
Layla Salazar
Each morning, 10-year-old Layla Salazar and her father Vincent Salazar would jam out to “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” by Guns N’ Roses as he drove her to school.
“She was just a whole lot of fun,” he said.
Layla enjoyed swimming and dancing to TikTok videos.
In the above picture, she showed off two ribbons that she won during the school’s field day. She’d won six races.
Jaliah Nicole Silguer
Jaliah Nicole Siguero, 10, was among the 19 schoolchildren killed in Tuesday’s shooting. Her mother, Veronica Luevanos, says the young girl didn’t want to go to school that day, almost as if she could sense the tragedy that would ultimately take place.
Jayce Carmelo Luevanos
Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Jaliah Nicole Siguero’s cousin, also lost his life in the Texas elementary school shooting.
“They were nothing but loving baby angels, always had a smile on their face just full of life,” their cousin said in a statement to ABC News. “I can’t believe this happened to our angels.”
Jackie Cazares
Jackie Cazares, 10, lost her life in Tuesday’s Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Her cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, was killed in the shooting as well.
Her father, Jacinto Cazares, wrote on Facebook about the tragedy.
Tragedy has hit our hometown of Uvalde. As a community we've been affected one way or another. But there is a select...
Posted by Jacinto Cazares on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Uziyah Garcia
Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in Tuesday’s Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, according to the Associated Press.
His grandfather, Manny Renfro, has fond memories of the young boy.
“The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Renfro said. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”
Renfro said Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo during spring break.
“We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him to pass patterns. Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,” Renfro said. “There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.”
Amerie Jo Garza
Amerie Jo Garza, 10, was days away from completing her 4th-grade year of school. Worried sick, her father waited hours before he learned that Amerie was among the victims of Tuesday’s shooting.
According to her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, Amerie Jo was killed while trying to dial 911 to save her classmates.
The young girl’s father, Angel Garza, took to Facebook to thank the outpouring of community support:
“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.”
Xavier Lopez
Xavier Lopez, a 4th-grade student, was the first student to be identified by his family as one of the 19 children killed in Tuesday’s shooting. His mother saw him last at an awards ceremony just hours before the shooting.
Xavier had been looking forward to a summer of swimming, the boy’s cousin, 54-year-old Lisa Garza, said.
“He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,” she said. “He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.”
Alithia Ramirez
Alitha Ramirez, 10, had a passion for drawing and aspired to be an artist one day, according to her father, Ryan Ramirez. He says she recently entered a drawing in the Doodle for Google contest.
Ryan said he’s in the process of bringing the family together: “That’s what my daughter would want us right now to do, is to be strong.”
In a tweet, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O-Rourke said he met with the young girl’s family following her death. He says her amazing art adorned the walls and balloons from her 10th birthday were still up.
Alithia was killed yesterday.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) May 25, 2022
Her parents welcomed me into their home today. Balloons from Alithia’s 10th birthday were still up as was her amazing art.
They want the world to know what a beautiful, talented, happy girl she was. They never want this to happen to another kid. pic.twitter.com/6sSVYuB4uR
Annabelle Rodriguez
Annabelle Rodriguez, 10, lost her life in Tuesday’s Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Her cousin, Jackie Cazares, was killed in the shooting as well.
Annabell’s great aunt described her as outgoing and said she enjoyed being the center of attention, according to the New York Times.
Eliahana Cruz Torres
Eliahana Cruz Torres’ family discovered late Tuesday night that she was among the 19 children killed in Tuesday’s mass shooting.
She loved playing softball and practiced hard each day, hoping to make the all-star roster.
Rojelio Torres
Rojelio Torres was among the victims in Tuesday’s shooting.
His mother told ABC News that the 10-year-old was a “very smart and loving child.”
“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. We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten,” said Precious Perez, Rojelio’s aunt.
This is a developing breaking news story. You can find all of our coverage so far below:
Read more of this developing story from our sister station in San Antonio, Texas, KSAT.
