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(CNN) - Their ancestors fled from the United States to Mexico to escape persecution. Now, members of a Mormon community shaken by violence say they are forced to uproot and return to the United States.
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"We are not going to live at the mercy of these posters," said Lafe Langford, who lost nine relatives last week in a horrific attack in northern Mexico.
Dawna Ray Langford and her son Trevor died in the massacre.
This Saturday, a convoy of 18 vehicles full of family members left La Mora, a community of fundamentalist Mormons that is not part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"All our hearts are hurting, not only with what we lost, but because what has been a paradise for the Langford for 50 years has suddenly become a place where most do not feel safe," said Kendra Lee Miller, family member.
"Whether it is (safe) or not, it will never be the same."
Those who left will seek refuge in the United States, Langford said. He said they will stay with family members in Utah, Arizona, North Dakota, Louisiana and other states.
The FBI will help investigate the massacre that killed nine Mormons in Mexico
Of the approximately 45 houses in La Mora, less than a dozen are still occupied, Langford said.
He said many of those who have left claim they will never return.
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"If we don't see a way we can live here, we're done," he said.
Talk to the child who walked six hours to get help
The ambush that killed three mothers and six children also left several surviving children to deal with a life of trauma.
Devin Langford, 13, saw his mother, Dawna Ray Langford, and two brothers die.
"They started shooting us a lot of bullets quickly," Devin told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview that aired on Monday.
Devin said he thinks one of the bullets hit his mother's car engine, breaking it while trying to flee.
"The car didn't work, so I was just trying to start the car as much as I could," Devin told GMA.
Dawna Ray Langford spent his last moments trying to protect his children and praying.
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"Get off right now," Devin recalled what his mother said. "She was trying to pray to the Lord."
When the bullets finally stopped, Devin hid six of his brothers in bushes and covered them with branches to "keep them safe while seeking help," Miller posted on Facebook.
Then he walked 22 kilometers through the remote, mountainous terrain of northern Mexico to seek help.
During that hike of hours, Devin told GMA that he was overwhelmed with fear "that there was someone else trying to shoot me or follow me."
A gunshot girl also tried to help
Devin was not the only child who tried to save other survivors.
At dusk, McKenzie Langford, 9, who was shot in the wrist, worried about Devin.
"I have to go find him," McKenzie said, according to Lafe Langford.
“I had a bullet in my wrist, but I was probably in the best way to walk at that time. And so it went, ”Langford told CNN.
READ: "Their bodies were reduced to ashes": the heartbreaking family messages after the massacre in Mexico
“We found her by her small footprints. He took the wrong path. Six hours later, we saw that her footprints had a shoe, and then a small bare foot because she had to take off her shoes and her feet were swollen and covered with blisters when they found her at 9:30 at night. ”
But McKenzie did not complain about his injuries.
“The first thing that came out of his mouth when he saw his uncles was: 'We have to go back. We have to go back. My brothers and sisters are dying. They are bleeding, they were shot. We have to go rescue them, '”said Langford. "And that's all that mattered to him."
CNN's Shawn Nottingham, Flora Charner, Natalie Gallon, Gary Tuchman and Ray Sánchez contributed to this report.
Family LeBarónLeBarónMexicoMormones