Students as Young as 8, 4th Grade Teacher Identified as Victims in Texas School Shooting

Law enforcement officials at the Uvalde Civic Center, which is operating as a grief counseling location for community members affected by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School the day prior, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

After it was confirmed that a gunman shot and killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school, family members have begun to confirm the identities of the victims.

Manny Renfro said he got word Tuesday that his grandson, 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, was among those killed.

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

Renfro said Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo during spring break. “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.”

Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, Texas, mourned the death of her cousin, Xavier Javier Lopez, who had been eagerly awaiting 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.”

Xavier’s uncle, Benito Martinez, told Fox News that he wants to remind parents to treasure their loved ones.

“For everybody else that has kids out here, cherish these moments just like your parents cherished you every day,” Martinez said. “Tomorrow’s not promised, so make today worth it.”

Slain fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles, 44, was remembered as a loving mother and wife. “She was adventurous. ... She is definitely going to be very missed,” said 34-year-old relative Amber Ybarra, of San Antonio.

“Welcome to the 4th grade! We have a wonderful year ahead of us!” Mireles said in a letter posted on the school’s website, adding that she had been teaching for 17 years.

Family members also confirmed that 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza died in the incident.

“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,” her father said.

Another 10-year-old, Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, was also identified as a victim by family members to local media.

While officials have not immediately revealed a motive, they identified the suspect as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, a resident of Uvalde who attended the town’s high school. Officials told media outlets that he was killed by a Border Patrol agent who rushed in without waiting for backup.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.