(Various sources)
Authorities and the families of the victims have announced the names of the 19 students and two teachers killed in Tuesday’s shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo, 10, put a smile on everyone’s face, said her cousin, Austin Ayala, in the Washington Post, and added that her family is devastated.
Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares, 10, was full of love and full of life, her father Jacinto Cazares told reporters. “She would do anything for anyone. And for me, she’s a little firecracker, man.”
10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod loved playing softball, gymnastics, and spending time with her family. “Her smile would light up a room,” Allen McCullough, Makenna’s aunt, told ABC News. McCullough described his niece as a natural leader who loved school and was “a light to all who knew her.”
Jose Flores Jr., 10, was one of the victims, his father Jose Flores Sr. said. on CNN. Flores said his son was in fourth grade and loved baseball and video games. “He was always full of energy,” Flores said. “Ready to play until nightfall.” Flores also described his son as an amazing child and older brother of his two brothers.
Eliana “Ellie” Garcia, 9, was among those killed, her family told KHOU. Rogelio Lugo and Nelda Lugo, Eliana’s grandparents, told the Los Angeles Times that she loved the movie “Charm,” animation, and basketball, and that she dreamed of becoming a teacher.
Irma Garcia, a fourth-grade teacher, has been identified as a victim and confirmed via a GoFundMe page. Wife and mother of four, she was “sweet, kind, loving. Funny with the utmost personality,” the page read, adding, “She sacrificed herself by protecting the children in her classroom. She was a hero.” Her husband, Joe Garcia, died two days after the shooting, according to relatives.
Uziyah Garcia, 10, has been identified as one of the victims, his family confirmed to CNN. He was in fourth grade, his aunt Nikki Cross told CNN. His uncle, Mitch Renfro, described Uziyah as a “big boy. Full of life. I loved anything with wheels and video games.” He leaves behind two sisters.
Amerie Jo Garza, 10, was identified by her father as one of the murdered children. Angel Garza posted on Facebook in the early hours of Wednesday: “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 I. Take care of your family. Little brother to me, “said the father.
Jayce Luevanos, 10, has been identified as one of the victims by CNN through a GoFundMe site set up to raise funds for funeral expenses and family needs. Jayce’s grandfather, Carmelo Quiroz, told USA Today that Jayce and his mother lived with him. He said the 10-year-old was happy and loved. “He was our baby,” Quiroz said.
Xavier López, 10, was identified as one of the victims, his mother Felicha Martínez confirmed to the Washington Post. “It was funny, never serious and his smile,” Martinez told the newspaper.
Tess Marie Mata, 10, has been identified as one of the victims, her sister told the Washington Post. The fourth-grader loved TikTok dancing, the Ariana Grande, and the Houston Astros, and was saving money so the whole family could go to Disney World, her sister said.
Maranda Mathis, 11, was identified as one of the victims, according to Uvalde’s website. Leslie Ruiz, who identified herself as a friend of Mathis’ mother, told The Washington Post that Mathis was a bright, funny, Valencian girl. He said Maranda’s best friend was her brother, and that he was also at Robb Elementary when the shooting happened.
Eva Mireles, a fourth-grade teacher, was among those killed, her aunt Lydia Martínez Delgado told CNN. She had been an educator for 17 years and in her spare time enjoyed running, hiking, biking and spending time with her family, according to her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website.
Alithia Ramirez, 10, was in fourth grade and loved to draw, her father, Ryan Ramirez, told CNN affiliate KSAT. He said he wanted to be an artist.
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez was 10 years old, family members told CNN affiliate KHOU-TV. Her family told the station that she was in the same classroom as her cousin Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares, who also died in the shooting.
Maite Rodriguez, 10, dreamed of becoming a marine biologist and had her heart set on attending Texas A&M in Corpus Christi, her mother, Ana Rodriguez, said on Facebook. Maite was “sweet, charismatic, loving, affectionate, loyal, free, ambitious, funny, silly, goal-driven” and her best friend, she said. Ana Rodríguez wrote that her daughter loved animals and photography and learned to sew for herself by watching YouTube videos.
Lexi Rubio, 10, has been identified by her parents as one of the victims. Felix and Kimberly Rubio celebrated Tuesday that their daughter made the All-A honor roll and won a good citizen award at Robb Elementary shortly before the shooting. In a text message to CNN, Felix and Kimberly Rubio said: “She was kind, sweet and appreciated life. She was going to be a softball star and have a bright future, whether she was athletic or academic. Please do to know in the world that we are missing our baby. “
Layla Salazar, 11, has been identified as one of the victims of Tuesday’s shooting. Layla was an active girl who loved to run, shoot TikTok videos, and dance, her family told CNN. He also loved swimming in the river with his two older brothers.
Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10, enjoyed dancing and making TikTok videos, her mother Veronica Luevanos told CNN’s Univision partner. Jailah didn’t want to go to school on Tuesday morning and asked to stay home, but Luevanos said he told her no.
Eliahana “Elijah” Cruz Torres, 10, has been identified as one of the victims, her aunt Leandra Vera told CNN. “Our baby gained his wings,” Vera said.
Rojelio Torres, 10, also died in the shooting, his aunt Precious Perez told KSAT, a CNN affiliate. The family waited nearly 12 hours to find out if her nephew was one of the victims, Perez said. “We are devastated and heartbroken,” he said. “Rojer was a very intelligent, hardworking and helpful person. We will miss him and we will never forget him.” In a post on Facebook, Torres’ mother, Evadulia Orta, posted a photo of her son and wrote “RIP to my son Rojelio Torres we love you and we miss you.”