Alithia Ramirez (10)
Alithia Ramirez wanted to be an artist and have her work displayed in a gallery.
The fourth-grade student was one of the 19 schoolchildren and two teachers who died when an 18-year-old gunman, armed with an assault rifle, broke into their classroom on Tuesday.
At a vigil for the victims on Wednesday night the heartbroken mother of Alithia, Jessica Hernandez, showed her daughter’s artwork and cards she had made for her birthday last year.
Are Loughmore-Castleiney and Slaughtneil what all GAA clubs should strive to be?
Chasing the Light review: This agreeable Irish documentary is all peace and healing. Then something disturbing happens
Your work questions answered: Can bonuses be deducted pro-rata during a maternity leave?
John Montague: A Poet’s Life by Adrian Frazier: ‘ruthless intimacy’
“She was so bright, smart and very talented. She wanted to be an artist. She was always drawing, ever since she was four years old, she wanted to show her art and show how talented she was.”
Jessica Hernandez read out the card that Alithia had made and given to her for her birthday last year.
“Dear mom, you have always been there for me no matter what, you made me feel loved and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you have done for me. You are truly a wonderful mother. You are special. Have a wonderful birthday.”
[ Texas shooting: Biden offers comfort but far-reaching gun reforms unlikelyOpens in new window ]
Speaking to reporters including The Irish Times at the vigil Ms Hernandez said in the aftermath of the attack on the Robb elementary school in Uvalde, she wanted to see more security in schools.
“I do not want this to happen again. I do not want this to to happen to other families. I just don’t.”
Uziyah Garcia (8)
Uziyah was “the sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Uziyah’s grandfather, Manny Renfro said. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”
Mr Renfro said he had last seen his grandson when he came to visit during spring break. “We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns,” he said. “Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good.”
“There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practised.”
Xavier Javier Lopez (10)
Xavier Lopez made the honour roll on the day he was killed.
Xavier’s cousin Lisa Garza (54) from Arlington in Texas, said he was eagerly looking forward to 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.”
Ms Garza said Xavier’s mother had been with him during an awards ceremony at the school hours before the shooting.
[ ‘She wanted to be an artist’: Texas mourns for dead schoolchildrenOpens in new window ]
Amerie Jo Garza (10)
The father of Amerie Jo Garza, who celebrated her 10th birthday just over a fortnight ago, identified his daughter as another of the children killed. “Thank you everyone for the prayers and help trying to find my baby,” Angel Garza said.
“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.”
Writing on Facebook, Amerie’s mother Kimberly wrote: You did not deserve this my sweet baby girl. Mommy loves you, mommy can’t sleep without you. Mommy needs you. Amerie I can’t do this life without you. How am I supposed to live life without you? I will never understand. I love you and I’ll never be the same , ever again.”
Jose Flores Jr (10)
Jose Flores also made the honour roll on the day he was killed.
Jose Jr’s uncle Christopher Salazar said: “He was a very happy little boy. He loved both his parents … and loved to laugh and have fun.”
Eva Mireles (44)
A fourth-grade teacher, Eva Mireles (44), was confirmed as one of the two adults killed. “She was adventurous. I would definitely say those wonderful things about her. She is definitely going to be very missed,” said a relative, Amber Ybarra.
She enjoyed running, hiking, and cycling according to her bio on the school’s staff page. She had a “supportive, fun, and loving family and 3 furry friends”.
Ms Mireles’ aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, said her niece had been a teacher for 17 years and was shot and killed while trying to protect her pupils. Ms Delgado said she was married with one child and took pride in her teaching.
“She was the fun of the party … I’m furious that these shootings continue. These children are innocent. Rifles should not be easily available to all.”
Ms Mireles’ sister wrote on a GoFundMe page: “My beautiful sister Eva Mireles was taken from our family in the worst way possible … Eva is truly the definition of a hero. She put her own fears aside to protect her students that day. She was a gift God let us borrow. Our family is torn, we want her back. Nothing will ever fill this void. You never imagine these types of things happening to you or people you may know and now that it has we are forced to deal with this sadness and so many unanswered questions.”
Eliana “Ellie” Garcia (9)
Elihana “Ellie” Garcia enjoyed making Tiktoks about her faith, according to her parent’s Facebook pages.
My heart is shatter [sic] to pieces,” Ellie Garcia’s mother, Jennifer Lugo, wrote on Facebook. “My heart is broken, I don’t know what to do. I feel so numb. I miss you baby.”
Irma Garcia (46)
Irma Garcia was the second adult victim. According to her school profile, Ms Garcia, who was Ms Mireles’ co-teacher, had taught at the school for 23 years and was married with four children. It was reported that her son had been told by a friend in law enforcement that she too had been shielding her pupils.
According to her school bio, Ms Garcia loved to BBQ with my husband, listen to music, and take country cruises to Concan.
Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo (10)
“She is flying with the angels above. We love you Nevaeh very much princess! Please everyone continue to keep her parents and our family in your prayers,“ Nevaeh’s cousin wrote on Facebook after Neveah was found.
Makenna Lee Elrod (10)
“Words cannot express the pain my sister and our family is going through,” Makenna’s aunt Allison McCullough wrote on a GoFundMe page.
“I know in the coming weeks my sister is going to be overcome with so much and any support is appreciated. Please pray for our family and remember Makenna. She was beautiful, funny, smart, and amazing. She had the biggest heart and loved her family and friends so much. Her smile would light up a room. We will carry her in our hearts and we know she is with our Lord and Saviour.”
Jailah Nicole Silguero (11)
A family friend wrote on a GoFundMe page that Jailah “had her life ahead of her. She was a delighted, energetic, lovely little girl that loved to make TikTok videos for friends and family”. Jailah was in the same class as her cousin Jayce, another victim of the shooting.
Tess Marie Mata (10)
Tess’s sister Faith wrote on Twitter: “My precious angel you are loved so deeply. In my eyes, you are not a victim but a survivor. I love you always and forever baby sister, may your wings soar higher then [sic] you could ever dream. Till we meet again Tess Marie, love your big sissy.”
Jayce Carmelo Luevanos (10)
Jayce died in the same classroom as his cousin, Jailah Silguero. Jayce’s aunt wrote on Facebook: “Still can’t believe that we’re never gonna see you again.”
Eliahana Cruz Torres (10)
Eliahana Cruz Torres “was a beautiful young girl with a lot of energy”, her grandfather Adolfo Cruz said.
Eliahana’s aunt, Siria Arizmendi said: “She was very happy and very outgoing. She loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family.”
Annabelle Rodriguez (10)
Annabelle Rodriguez and her cousin Jacklyn (see below) were also killed in the massacre. They were the second set of cousins killed in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
Along with her other classmates, Annabelle had just made the honour roll.
Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares (10)
Jacklyn’s father Jacinto Cazares said on Facebook that “tragedy has hit our hometown of Uvalde...my baby girl had been taken away from my family and I [sic]”.
“There is a select few, that won’t be kissing or hugging our babies tonight... taken out of arms and lives, in this cowardly way, so young, so innocent, full of life and love. It hurts us to our souls... My baby girl will always be with us and those she has touched. May your passing not be in vein [sic], something will be done, I promised you...”
Layla Salazar (10)
Layla’s father Vinnie Salazar said a “tragedy has taken the life of our precious little angel Layla”.
In a Go Fund Me page that seeks to fundraise to cover the cost of Layla’s funeral, Mr Salazar said: “Our family is devastated. This heart-wrenching time has changed us forever. If people knew how much we truly miss our daughter, they would wonder how we’re still breathing... she will live within the beat of my heart forever.”
Miranda Mathis
Miranda’s death was confirmed by an older cousin in a post on Facebook, who had posted an appeal to help look for her the day before.
Deanna Miller said: “My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly I’m so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers.”
Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio
Lexi’s mother Kimberly Mata-Rubio posted an emotional tribute to her daughter on Facebook.
“My sweet Lexi. Love of my life. Keeper of my soul. I carried you inside me. I’m you. You are me I want to be with you. Now. Not later,” she said.
“If he could have seen what I see, he wouldn’t have hurt my baby. No one would have. I wish everyone could see her as I do.”
Maite Rodriguez
In a post on GoFundMe, Feliz Coronado, who claims to be a relative of the family, said: “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.”
The post says they are “deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl. May she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you”.
Rojelio Torres (10)
Rojelio’s mother Evadulia Orta wrote on Facebook, “RIP to my son Rojelio Torres, we love you and miss you”