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‘We Had No Idea This Was Goodbye’: Victims of Texas School Massacre Remembered

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In the hours since Tuesday’s deadly shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, some family members are beginning the unimaginable mourning process after learning that their loved one was taken from them. Others, meanwhile, are still trying to find their missing child, praying that their biggest fear isn’t about to become a reality.

At least 19 students and two teachers were killed Tuesday at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, in what is now the deadliest mass shooting at a school since the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012. Officials have not revealed a motive for the shooting but have said the shooter, who died on the scene, was a resident of the community and acted alone.

While law enforcement officers have not revealed the full list of names of those killed in the tragedy, family members and loved ones have begun paying tribute to the lives lost in the unthinkable — and avoidable — tragedy.

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Nevaeh Bravo, age 10

Nevaeh Bravo’s family waited hours to receive confirmation of the 10 year-old’s death. “It just feels like a nightmare that we cannot wake up from,” cousin Austin Ayala told the Washington Post. “Her siblings have to wake up every day knowing that she’s not there with them.”

Jacklyn “Jackie” Jaylen Cazares, age 10

Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares, known as Jackie, was in the same fourth-grade class at Robb Elementary School as her cousin, Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez. Both girls were killed in Tuesday’s shooting, family members told the New York Times. Jackie, who comes from a “very tight family,” had celebrated her First Communion two weeks ago, according to aunt Polly Flores. “She was outgoing; she always had to be the center of attention,” she said of the girl. “She was my little diva.”

“My little girl was full of life and touched so many people,” Jackie’s father, Jacinto Cazares, told ABC News. “Jackie was the one that would go out of her way to help anyone. It gives me some comfort, that she would be the little cracker that would have done something to help her classmates in that very scary scenario.”

Makenna Lee Elrod, age 10

Allison McCullough told ABC News that her niece Makenna Lee Elrod was a playful, active girl who enjoyed spending time with family. “Her smile would light up a room,” she said. “She was full of life and will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.”

Kadence Elrod paid tribute to her “innocent baby sister” on social media, sharing a photo of the two together at a graduation. “All I ask is that you hug your loved ones tonight and tell them you love them,” she wrote on Twitter. “You never know when you won’t have the chance to anymore #EnoughIsEnough”

Jose Flores Jr., age 10

“Jose was the only one who didn’t make it out,” Jose Flores Jr.’s aunt Lydia Salazar 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.”

“He was a very happy little boy,” uncle Christopher Salazar said in an interview with the Washington Post. “He wasn’t a kid who would look for trouble.”

Ellie Garcia, age 9

Ellie Garcia’s father and mother, Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo, had been sharing social media messages in a desperate search for their daughter on Tuesday. By that evening, Garcia confirmed that their daughter died.  “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,” Garcia wrote on Facebook. He added: “Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side, Amor!”

“I’ve seen all the stuff happen in other states, hoping it doesn’t happen here. Now it has,” her grandfather Rogelio Lugo told The Los Angeles Times.

Irma Garcia, age 46

Fourth-grade teacher Irma Garcia’s death was confirmed by her son Christian, who was told by law enforcement that Garcia was seen shielding her students from the gunman, NBC News reported. She taught at Robb Elementary for 23 years, according to her school district profile, and was a co-teacher with Eva Mireles, who also died in the shooting. Her nephew, Joey, shared a photo of the two of them together on social media. “My tia [aunt] did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom” Joey wrote, calling her a hero.

Uziyah Garcia, age 8

“The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Uziyah Garcia’s grandfather Manny Renfro told the Associated Press. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”

Amerie Jo Garza, age 10

Amerie Jo Garza was “full of life, a jokester, always smiling,” her father Angel told the New York Times. “She was very social. She talked to everybody.”

The heartbroken father first shared the news of Amerie’s death on social media: “Thank you everyone for the prayers and help trying to find my baby. She’s been found,” he wrote. “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.”

Xavier Javier Lopez, age 10

Xavier Javier Lopez’s family confirmed his death at Robb Elementary, KSAT reports. Hours before the shooting, Lopez’s mother, Felicha Martinez, was with him at a school award ceremony.

“He loved any activity in which he could be creative and especially get to draw,” Martinez told the Washington Post. The energetic young boy who loved to dance was often featured in videos on his mother’s TikTok account. “He was funny, never serious, and his smile. That smile I will never forget. It would always cheer anyone up.”

Tess Mata, age 10

Tess Mata was remembered as a sweet child who was especially close to her older sister. “She wanted us all to go to Disney World,” Faith Mata told The Washington Post. “She went a couple years ago. But she loved it so much she wanted to go back. We were planning to go once I graduated from college next year.” The older sister had rushed from San Marcos, Texas, where she attends Texas State University, as soon as she heard of the shooting at her sister’s school.

“I just want to hold you and tell you how pretty you are,” Faith wrote in a Facebook post memorializing Tess. “I want to take you outside and practice softball, I want to go on one last family vacation, I want to hear your contagious laugh, and I want you to hear me tell you how much I love you.”

Eva Mireles, age 44

A fourth-grade teacher at Robb Elementary and 17-year educator, Eva Mireles — like her co-teacher Irma Garcia — was “trying to protect her students” from the gunman, a relative told the New York Times. “She is a hero,” Mireles’ cousin Amber Ybarra told the Today show.

Mireles’ daughter, Adalynn, shared a heartfelt message to her mom on social media. “Mom, you are a hero. I keep telling myself that this isn’t real. I just want to hear your voice,” she wrote, sharing cherished memories with her mom and thanking her for everything. She added: “You are so known by many now and I’m so happy that people know your name and that beautiful face of yours and they know what a hero looks like.”

“She was the most outgoing and generous person, always happy. She’d do anything for all the kids she taught and all my little cousins and nieces and nephews,”Johnny Delgado, Mireles’ cousin, told Rolling Stone. “She was a little older than me, but she’s always been there for me if I ever needed someone to talk to.”

Alithia Ramirez, age 10

Alithia Ramirez enjoyed drawing and hoped to be an artist, her father Ryan Ramirez told KSAT, adding that he was working to gather the family in the wake of his daughter’s death. “That’s what my daughter would want us to do, is to be strong.”

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, age 10

Honor Roll student Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez was killed alongside her cousin, Jackie Cazares. Great-aunt Polly Flores told the New York Times that Annabell’s twin sister was often jealous of how close the two girls were.

Maite Rodríguez, age 10

Relatives of 10-year-old Maite Rodriguez confirmed her death to Rolling Stone, describing the fourth grader as joyful, smart and always looking out for others. “She was always excited and happy – so much fun to be around. She loved going to the beach,” Felix Coronado, the brother of Maite’s grandfather, tells Rolling Stone. “We heard from a kid who survived in the room, he told us that she did everything she could to help the other kids.” A GoFundMe set up by the family asked for support for Maite’s mom, Ana Rodriguez.

“She was her mommy’s only girl,” relative Aiko Coronado wrote on Facebook. “She was her mom’s best friend. She was the light of her life.”

Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, age 10

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio loved to play softball and basketball, and dreamed of becoming a lawyer one day, her family told CNN. The girl, known to her friends and family as Lexi, was killed just hours after receiving two awards during a ceremony at Robb Elementary School. “My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award,” her mother, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, wrote on Facebook. “We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.”

Lexi’s father, Felix Rubio, is a deputy with the Uvalde County Sheriff. In an interview with CNN, he called for stronger action on gun violence. “All I can hope is that she’s just not a number,” he said. “This is enough. No one else needs to go through this.”

Layla Salazar, age 10

Every morning before school, Layla Salazar and her father, Vincent Salazar, would listen to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns ‘N Roses. “She was just a whole lot of fun,” he told the Associated Press.

Jailah Nicole Silguero, age 10

Verónica Luevanos, whose 10-year-old daughter Jailah Nicole Silguero died, spoke with Univision in an emotional interview. “I went to take her to school, but she didn’t want to go,” Luevanos tearfully said in Spanish. “She always loves going to school but she told her dad, ‘Can I stay home?’ And her dad told her to ask me. She always likes going to school, but she didn’t want to go yesterday. I think she knew something was going to happen.”

“I can’t believe this happened to my daughter, my baby,” Jacob Silguero told the New York Times. “It’s always been a fear of mine to lose a kid.”

Eliahana “Elijah” Cruz Torres

Eliahana Cruz Torres was “excited” about an upcoming important softball game, according to her aunt. Leandrah Rodriguez told the Austin-American Statesman the young girl hoped to make the Uvalde All-Star team.

Rojelio Torres, age 10

The mother of fourth-grade student Rojelio Torres told ABC News that her son was a “very smart and loving child.”

“Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres my 10 year old nephew, was killed in this tragedy,” aunt Precious Perez told KSAT. “We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.”

Additional reporting by Tomás Mier

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