Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims

UVALDE, TX — Loved ones filled with immeasurable grief are remembering the victims slain in the carnage Tuesday at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

The number of children shot and killed at Robb Elementary School climbed to 19. Two adults were also killed, and the 18-year-old gunman was shot dead by law enforcement. Gov. Greg Abbott identified the shooter as Salvador Ramos, of Uvalde. The shooter carried a long rifle with multiple rounds of ammunition and wore a tactical vest as body armor, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told The Associated Press.

Friends and family members began identifying the victims as siblings, nieces, nephews and teachers. All the children and teachers who died were inside a single classroom where the shooter barricaded himself, Olivarez told CNN.

See also:

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• Texas School Shooting: Gunman Killed 19 Kids, 2 Teachers In Same Class
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Screams could be heard at a local civic center as heartbroken families learned their child was among the dead. Loved ones mourned their loss on social media and pleaded for help finding missing children.

Here's what we know about the victims.

Uziyah Garcia

Manny Renfro learned Tuesday his grandson Uziyah Garcia, was slain in the shooting.

“The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Renfro said, according to AP. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”

Over spring break, Uziyah visited Renfro in San Angelo, and the two played catch.

“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 good,” Renfro said. “There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.”

Eva Mireles

Eva Mireles's aunt Lydia Delgado told KXAS-TV Mireles was killed in the shooting. Delgado said Mireles taught for 17 years and was educator who “took pride in teaching mostly students of Latino heritage.”

Mireles, 44, was remembered as a loving mother and wife.

“She was adventurous. I would definitely say those wonderful things about her. She is definitely going to be very missed,” said Amber Ybarra, a 34-year-old relative from San Antonio.

Her daughter said in a statement posted to Twitter that Eva was a hero.

"Mom, you are a hero," her daughter wrote. "I keep telling myself this isn't real. I just want to hear your voice."

Xavier Javier Lopez

Xavier Javier Lopez was identified as one of the victims by his cousin Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, Texas. Xavier eagerly awaited a summer of swimming.

“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.”

Hours before the shooting, Xavier was celebrated at the school's honor roll ceremony, his mother, Felicha Martinez, told The Washington Post.

“He was funny, never serious and his smile,” Martinez told the newspaper. “That smile I will never forget. It would always cheer anyone up.”

Amerie Jo Garza

Angel Garza pleaded on Facebook for help finding his 10-year-old daughter, Amerie Jo.

“I don’t ask for much or hardly even post on here but please It’s been seven hours and I still haven’t heard anything on my love,” Garza said on Facebook. “Please help me find my daughter.”

On Wednesday, he said Amerie was killed, according to CNN.

“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,” Garza wrote.

“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.”

She was also reportedly named to the school's honor roll hours before gunfire erupted.

Amerie’s grandmother said the girl called 911.

“So the gunman went in and he told the children, ‘You’re going to die,’” Berlinda Irene Arreola told the Daily Beast. “And [Amerie] had her phone and she called 911. And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood.”

She said her granddaughter was a hero.

Makenna Lee Elrod

In a video posted on social media, the choked-up father of 10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod said he was heading to a funeral home because they couldn't find his daughter.

"Pretty sad. Really sad. And what this world's coming to," Brandon Elrod told a reporter from KTRK.

Her sister Kadence confirmed she was among the dead.

"My baby sister has finally been found in a classroom…All I ask is that you hug your loved ones tonight and tell them you love them, you never know when you won’t have the chance to anymore."

The mother of Makenna’s friend wrote online: “Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!”

Ellie Lugo

Steven Lugo identified Ellie Lugo as one of the victims, writing: "Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.”

“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!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,” Lugo wrote on Facebook, according to the New York Post.

Jose Flores Jr.

Lydia Salazar Torrez was working when she remembered that several nieces and nephews were at the school. She said Jose Flores Jr. was killed.

“Jose was the only one who didn’t make it out,” Torrez told Rolling Stone. “It’s horrible. We can’t even believe this has happened. We can’t. It shouldn’t have happened. Jose was nothing but heaven. He’s his mom’s first-born. He was in a good mood all the time, always saying hello to everybody. It’s a tragedy. It’s something that the whole world is never going to forget.”

Christopher Salazar wrote on Facebook he'll miss Jose, saying: "i still can't believe this happened my heart is broken just hearing them tell us your gone it hurts me I love you so much and I wish you were still here. I'm going to miss you soo much rest in paradise my beautiful angel."

Irma Garcia

Family identified fourth-grade teacher Irma Garcia as another victim.

"My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y’all’s prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO. she was loved by many and will truly be missed," one social media user tweeted.

Garcia, a mother of four, taught at the school for 23 years. She and Mireles were co-teachers, according to the school’s website. Her bio states that she loved to barbecue with her husband, listen to music, and take country cruises to Concan.

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez

Family members told KHOU-TV that 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez was killed in the shooting. Annabell, a third-grader, was in the same class as her cousin, who was also killed.

Alithia Ramirez

Alithia Ramirez was identified as one of the victims by her cousin.

"My little cousin Alithia Ramirez. 10 years young. R.I.P beautiful angels," Alithia's cousin tweeted.

Ryan Ramirez waited for hours outside the reunification center looking for his daughter, a fourth grader at the school. When she never got off one of the buses, he drove to a nearby funeral home where some students were taken.

“Nobody’s telling me anything,” Ramirez told KTRK-TV. “I’m trying to find out where my baby’s at.”

"Trying to find my daughter Alithia," he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. "I Called all the hospitals and nothing."

On Wednesday morning, he updated his profile photo on Facebook to a picture of his daughter with angel wings.

Miranda Mathis

Miranda Mathis was also among the dead, according to her cousin.

"My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers," Deanna Miller wrote on Facebook.

She posted a photo of the girl with a halo and angel wings.

In a separate Facebook post, Miller said her son was also at the school. His class evacuated out of a window, and the boy told her the shooter said he was going to "kill all the kids." Her son ran to a funeral home for safety.

"He tells me mom I had to be strong for u and that he was so scared because his little brother was in the same school and he couldn't get to him," Miller wrote. "I lay my head on his little chest listening to his heart beat and tear up god thank u for being with my children today they might not have been physically hurt but they r emotionally hurt please lord be with all my hometown."

Alexandria "Lexi" Aniyah Rubio

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was identified as one of the victims by Kimberly Mata-Rubio. She, too, had been recognized earlier in the day for her academics.

"My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. 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," wrote Mata-Rubio.

She updated her profile photo to a picture of a smiling Alexandria in a blue t-shirt and beige hat.

Her cousin tweeted “She was such a bright light in everyone’s life and was a badass ball player. You left this world way too soon ,and you will forever be missed.”

Nevaeh Bravo

Nevaeh Bravo was identified as a victim by her cousin, the Star-Telegram reported.

“Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from today’s tragedy… Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn’t deserve this.”

Maite Yuleana Rodriguez

Relatives confirmed 10-year-old Maite Rodriguez was killed hours after she was recognized on the school's honor roll.

"My cousins daughter. Rest In Peace Maite," a family member tweeted.

A GoFundMe account has been created by Felix Coronado, who identified himself as a cousin of the girl's mother.

"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 senseless shooting we are deeply saddened by the lose of this sweet smart little girl.Donations for funeral expenses as well for time away from work to allow her to grieve her lose anything helps God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Ro driguez we love you," Coronado wrote.

Eliahna Garcia Cruz Torres

Adolfo Cruz, grandfather of Eliahna Garcia Cruz Torres, confirmed to ABC News she was also killed.

“She was very happy and very outgoing,” her aunt, Siria Arizmemdi, fifth-grade teacher at Flores Elementary School in the same school district, said. “She loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family.”

Tess Marie Mata

Faith Mata said her sister Tess was killed in the shooting.

"My precious angel you are loved so deeply," Faith Mata tweeted. "In my eyes you are not a victim but a survivor. 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."

"I'm so heart broken 💔 my baby I love u so much mamas don't ever forget that watch over me daddy and your sisters and big bro😭💔🕊
fly high baby girl

Jailah Nicole Silguero

Veronica Luevanos identified her daughter Jailah as one of the victims.

"I'm so heart broken 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 in a Facebook post. "Fly high baby girl."

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos

Veronica Luevanos said her cousin Jayce was also killed in the classroom.

"Fly high my angels," Luevanos wrote. "We're going to miss yall so much."

Rogelio Torres

Family members confirmed to Univision 14 that 10-year-old Rogelio Torres was killed in the shooting as well.

Jackie Cazares

Jackie Cazares, cousin of Annabelle Rodriguez, was also killed in the classroom. Jackie recieved her first communion two weeks ago, The New York Times reported. She was the more outgoing one of the two, her aunt Polly Flores said.

“She was outgoing; she always had to be the center of attention,” Flores told The Times. “She was my little diva.”

Layla Salazar

Layla Salazar was identified as one of the victims by her father and a cousin. Vincent Salazar told AP his 10-year-old daughter loved to swim and dance to TikTok videos. She was also an avid runner, winning six races at the school’s field day.

Salazar and his daughter sang along to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns ‘n’ Roses as they drove to school in the mornings, he said.

“She was just a whole lot of fun,” he told AP.

Layla's cousin Alexis Daniella said that while they never met in person, she knew the girl was a beuutiful person.

"I would hear so much about you and see so many cute videos of you dancing & just seeing great things you did through your moms Facebook . It breaks my heart to hear that your gone," Daniella wrote on Facebook.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.