What we know about the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas 6:59
(CNN) ––
An elementary school has been turned into a graveyard by gun violence.
This Tuesday, an 18-year-old attacker perpetrated a massacre at the Robb school in Uvalde, Texas, claiming the lives of dozens of victims.
At least 19 children and two adults were killed in the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook tragedy.
For 21 families, the table will never be full again.
Breaking: Dozens Killed in Texas Elementary School Shooting
Following the massacre, parents and loved ones waited for hours for information about their children at a civic center that was designated a reunification site.
"We see people leaving terrified. Everyone is crying. They are told that their son died," state senator Roland Gutiérrez told CNN on Tuesday night from the civic center.
What we know about America's deadliest elementary school shooting since Sandy Hook
Little by little, the names and stories of the victims of this shooting begin to be known.
This is what we know.
Amerie Jo Garza, age 10
Amerie Jo Garza in the arms of her father Angel Garza (Credit: Angel Garza)
The father of 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza identified his daughter as one of the victims of the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Angel Garza posted on Facebook early Wednesday morning that Amerie Jo had died.
"Thank you all for the prayers and help in trying to find my baby. They found her. My sweetie is now flying high with the angels above. Please don't take a second for granted. Hug your family. aman. I love you, Amerie Jo. Take care of your little brother for me," the father wrote.
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"What are we doing?": reactions to the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in which 21 people died
The publication was made hours after Ángel's original message in which he asked for help to find the girl after the shooting.
"I don't ask for much and I barely post here but please. It's been 7 hours and I still haven't heard anything about my love. 💔 Please Facebook help me find my daughter."
Xavier Lopez, 10 years old
Xavier Lopez.
(Credit: Family via The Washington Post)
Xavier López, 10, was identified as one of the victims of the shooting, his mother, Felicha Martínez, confirmed to
The Washington Post
.
He was a fourth grade student.
"He was funny, he was never serious and his smile..." Martinez said, her voice cracking.
"That smile that I will never forget. It always made anyone happy."
Just days away from completing his final year of elementary school, Xavier was counting down the time until he officially moved up the academic ladder at Flores Middle School in Uvalde.
"I really couldn't wait to go to high school," his mother said.
At least 19 children and two adults killed in a shooting at a Texas elementary school
It seemed that his dreams were very close to being fulfilled this Tuesday when it was the Robb Elementary School honor roll ceremony.
The mother was there to support him when Xavier was called to receive his certificate.
A few hours before the tragedy, Martínez took a photo of Xavier.
She told him that she was proud and that she loved him, before hugging her goodbye.
She did not imagine that this would be the last moment that she would share with her “mother's son”.
Eva Mireles, teacher
Eva Mireles was a teacher at Robb Elementary School.
Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was also killed in the shooting, her aunt Lydia Martinez Delgado told CNN.
"I'm furious these shootings continue. These kids are innocent, guns shouldn't be readily available to everyone. This is... my hometown, a small community of less than 20,000," she told CNN affiliate KSAT in a statement. release.
"I never imagined this would happen especially to loved ones...All we can do is pray hard for our country, our state, our schools and especially everyone's families," she added.
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An 18-year-old man opened fire Tuesday at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 students and two adults, authorities said.
In the image, Kladys Castellón prays during a vigil that took place in Uvalde on Tuesday night.
Billy Calzada/AP |
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People pray Tuesday night at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Uvalde.
William Luther/AP
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People take comfort outside the Civic Center in Uvalde.
Dario Lopez-Mills/AP
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Police personnel run near the scene of the shooting.
US Customs and Border Protection, which is the largest law enforcement agency in the area, helped with the response to the incident.
Marco Bello/Reuters
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A Texas State Trooper walks outside Robb Elementary School, where the shooting occurred.
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A woman reacts outside the Uvalde Civic Center.
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A minor boards a school bus Tuesday under police surveillance.
Robb High School had 535 students in the 2020-21 school year, according to state data.
About 90% of the students are Hispanic and about 81% are economically disadvantaged, the data shows.
Thursday was going to be the last day of school before summer break.
Marco Bello/Reuters
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People react outside the Civic Center.
With this, they add at least 30 shootings in primary and secondary schools in 2022. Marco Bello/Reuters
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Police officers and other first responders gather outside the school after Tuesday's shooting.
Dario Lopez-Mills/AP
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A woman cries and hugs a minor while she talks on the phone outside the Uvalde Civic Center.
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A woman cries as she leaves the Civic Center.
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Law enforcement officers stand outside the school after the shooting.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been assisting local law enforcement with the investigation.
Dario Lopez-Mills/AP
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People sit on the sidewalk outside the school as state police patrol the area.
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Police walk near the school after the shooting.
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A woman and a minor leave the Uvalde Civic Center on Tuesday.
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Mireles was an educator for 17 years, according to her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website.
In her free time, she enjoyed running, hiking, biking and spending time with her family, according to her website.
Identify all the victims
All the victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde have been identified.
Their bodies have been removed from the scene and families have been notified, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Chris Olivarez told CNN.
The official added that all the injuries and deaths occurred in a classroom.
“19 children died, as did two adults, two of whom were teachers.
It's a total of 21 victims," he told CNN.
"We know at this time that all of the victims have been removed from the school. All families have been notified."
When Olivarez was asked if all the injuries and deaths occurred in a classroom, he said, "That's correct."
"It was a classroom setting. He was able to walk into that classroom, lock the door and just start shooting the kids and the two teachers that were inside that classroom."
The school year is canceled
The school district said it will cancel the rest of the school year.
This Thursday was scheduled to be the last day of school before summer break.
Uvalde County, located about 85 miles west of San Antonio, had a population of about 25,000 people as of 2020, according to the school census.
Melissa Alonso, Paradise Afshar, Curt Devine, Jeff Winter, Eric Levenson, Evan Perez, Andy Rose, Priscilla Alvarez, Jamiel Lynch, Donie O'Sullivan, Jose Lesh, Amanda Jackson, Chris Boyette, Joseph Bonheim, Jennifer Henderson, and Joe Sutton contributed. to this report.
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