Children who survived the Uvalde shooting are not happy that they couldn’t save their friends

Noah and Jaydien were scared to death in the classroom after the massacre at Robb Elementary School. Their mother and daughter watched as they fought a gunman

The child has a strong belief in his abilities and he wishes he could have gone to help his classmates after the massacre at Robb Elementary School.

The officers were outside the classroom door. Jaydien did the same. His mother said he remembers being asked by police to call for help if he needed it. But a girl who did just that caught the attention of the gunman, who then shot her dead.

Noah thought he wouldn’t be able to get under the table with Jaydien. Jessica Orona said that her son fell to the floor after being shot in the back.

A person hiding under backpacks. Jaydien and a friend took cover under a table with a curtain and tried to get others to join them as they closed their eyes and covered their ears against the horror.

When law enforcement officers arrived at the classroom they confronted the shooter and he was killed.

Orona described a few of the sights and sounds that Noah told her. “One of the little girls that he was lying by, all he could hear was her gurgling because she was trying to breathe, but she couldn’t because she was shot and you could just hear her choking,” she said.

Chavez said that he saw someone in the hospital with a smeared face and blood on the floor. “I just saw my son’s face with blood on it. And I was like, where’s he bleeding from? And the doctor’s like, ‘He’s fine. She said that that was not his.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/11/us/uvalde-massacre-child-survivors-moms/index.html

Survivor Jaydien Rodriguez remembers what happened when he was kidnapped by a gun in Uvalde high school

There are arguments and anger over the time it took for authorities to enter the classroom in Uvalde. The police investigation into what officers were doing while there was a shooting inside the classroom still isn’t clear and some people question the accuracy of the investigations.

Scenes from that day and long wait for parents is what replays. A few days ago, Chavez told her son what it was like outside the school when families were rushing to escape the gunfire.

We are out there waiting for something to happen. She said all the police officers were standing in the hallway when she got the news of you coming out.

You would think that things are getting back to normal because my son is here, but it isn’t like that, said Orona. “My son has trouble sleeping, being in a big crowd, anything loud scares him, being by himself.”

She continued: “Of course we feel blessed because he is here … but every day it’s a struggle. It isn’t going to get cured in a week.

Jaydien’s mother, Azeneth Rodriguez, added: “He’s going to remember what happened that day and it’s going to stick to his head for the rest of his life.”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/11/us/uvalde-massacre-child-survivors-moms/index.html

Jaydien Tells His Mom about What Happened at Her Elementary School: She’s Sober and Dirty, and They’re Trying to Keep Their Kids Away

“We were barbecuing the other day and he was like, ‘What is that smell, that burn smell?’” Orona referred to her son, Noah. “And I was like, ‘What is wrong?’ And he just said, ‘I smell that smoky smell – and that’s the way we were in the classroom.’”

Jaydien asked to speak to CNN to give his version of what went wrong at the school. “If we would’ve had more people, this would’ve never happened,” he said, referring to police officers.

He said he would like to have cops everywhere to stop violence but when asked what makes it hard, he said his mom couldn’t afford anything.

Rodriguez said she hadn’t worked since the day after the shooting. There has been financial assistance but she had to go and find it – no one was calling to check in or offer it.

Families will likely spend more time and money on things like medical visits and therapy than they comprehend at the moment, and those bills will include that as well.

Orona said: “It’s just something that doesn’t have a time – to say, OK, give us enough for a month or a year or something. Our children are not the same anymore because they will have issues for the rest of their lives. They’re not like they used to be.”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/11/us/uvalde-massacre-child-survivors-moms/index.html

What Do Moms and Dads Tell About The Dead? Laughs and Teases about the Death of a Child, His Girlfriend and Orona

Some parents apologized to the families of the dead for their children being alive. The mothers CNN spoke to said that they had never done any media interviews to ensure the attention was given to the families who lost their loved ones.

Orona thinks her son had a purpose in being spared. Rodriguez fears something else bad could happen to Jaydien at any time. Chavez says she doesn’t neglect her other two children, but she does everything she can to care for AJ.

I just shut down and said I have to be strong for my son. It has been difficult. She said there are times that she just wants to break down and cry, but she cannot do that. I can’t bring myself to cry right now. Maybe in a couple of months I might just totally break down. But I, I just, it’s too hard.”

Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares, a little burst of light, after a school shooting, posted on social media

The 19 children and two teachers were killed in Texas on May 24, 2022, after a shooting at a school in Uvalde.

In the aftermath of the massacre, family members shared photos and memories of their loved ones who were killed – from the big dreams they had to the simple things that brought them joy.

Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares, her cousin and a friend were killed in an automobile accident, according to postings on social media from her family.

“She was full of love and full of life. She would do anything for anybody,” Cazares’ father Jacinto Cazares told reporters in a video distributed by Reuters. She is a little burst of light, man. It comforts me a little bit to think she would be the one to help her friends in need.”

“Through COVID, through the death of a family member a year ago, it brought us together and it was something beautiful,” he added. It is a tragedy that we are being brought together.

“There were five or six of (us) fathers, hearing the gunshots, and (police officers) were telling us to move back,” Cazares told the paper. “We didn’t care about us. We wanted to destroy the building. We were saying, ‘Let’s go’ because that is how worried we were, and we wanted to get our babies out.”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/us/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting/index.html

Jose Flores Sr., the First Student in Robb Elementary School, died of a Broken Heart, and left behind for his Families

Allison said that her niece’s smile would light up a room. She said that Makenna liked to play softball, gymnastics and spend time with her family. She was a natural leader and loved school. She described her niece as a light to everyone she knew.

Jose Flores Jr. was the big brother to his siblings, according to his father. And he loved baseball and video games.

Jose Jr. wanted to be a police officer when he grew up because he wanted to protect others. His mother remembers how helpful he was towards her when he was younger, especially when he was a baby.

She told Gary Tuchman that she would be like her little shadow. He was helping me with the baby. He had a like for babies, just like my friends. He just had a thing with babies. He was always pleasant.

Jose Jr.’s sister Endrea Flores was also in the fourth grade at Robb Elementary, though Endrea was in a different class than her brother. She said that she was most fond of her older brother playing with her and supporting her.

Rogelio Lugo and Nelda Lugo, Garcia’s grandparents, told the Los Angeles Times that she was a fourth grader at the school and the second-eldest of five girls in the family.

According to the GoFundMe page set up to help raise funds for her funeral expenses and family needs, the lady was a teacher, a wife and mother to four children.

I want her to be remembered as a woman who sacrificed her life so she could have her kids, even if only for a second, and who gave her life for them. “They weren’t just her students. She lost her life to protect her kids. That’s the type of person she was.”

Two days after Garcia’s death, her husband, Joe, suffered a fatal heart attack, the Archdiocese of San Antonio told CNN. They say he died of a broken heart.

Keep the family in your thoughts and prayers, said the post. “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 25 years was too much to bear.”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/us/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting/index.html

When Uziyah and Eva Mireles met: A Gamer’s Adventures with a Little Girl: Los Angeles, Texas School Shooting

Garcia had been an educator for 23 years, according to her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website. It was her fifth year co-teaching with Eva Mireles, who was also among the victims of the massacre.

According to his uncle, Uziyah was full of life. He loved video games and anything with wheels. He leaves behind his sisters.

The sweetest little boy, I have ever known, was the thing that helmed the comments by his grandfather. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”

Uziyah last visited his grandfather in San Angelo during his spring break. Renfro recalls tossing a football with his grandson, and how very quickly he got into the sport.

“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. He would remember certain plays and do them exactly as we practiced.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/us/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting/index.html

Jayce Luevanos, the baby of a school shooting victim, was shot by a girl covered in blood at a hermite hospital

Amerie Jo had just turned 10 years old and her family fulfilled her birthday wishes by giving her a phone, her father told CNN.

Garza eventually learned from two students that his daughter tried to use her new phone to call authorities during the shooting. He was a med aide, and when he arrived at the scene, he saw a girl covered in blood, who told him that someone shot her friend.

“We are all deeply saddened by the news we received from the Robb School shooting. It breaks my heart having to create a fundraiser for such a need but Jayce’s parents, Christina and Jose Luevanos need as much help as possible in these terrible times,” Jesus Cardona, who organized the verified GoFundMe campaign, said on the site.

Luevanos’ grandfather Carmelo Quiroz told USA Today that the 10-year-old and his mother lived with him. He said that Jayce was happy and loved. He was our baby, that’s what he said.

Jayce’s aunt, Veronica Luevanos, posted a picture on the Facebook page of her daughter and Jayce and wrote, “My baby you did not deserve this neither did your classmates.”

A mother told The Washington Post that his honor roll at Robb Elementary had been praised just prior to his death.

Felicha said he was funny, never serious and his smile was breaking. “That smile I will never forget. Everyone would be Cheered up by it.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/us/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting/index.html

Mireles, Mirelles, and the Hero: A Survivor of a School Shooting, Victims in Uvalde, Texas

His mother told the Post that he was about to finish his last year of elementary school, so he was going to move up to Flores Middle School in Uvalde.

Faith Mata, the sister of murdered 10-year-old Tess Marie Mata, told The Washington Post she had been saving money for her family’s trip to Disney World.

“My precious angel you are loved so deeply. 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,” Faith Mata wrote on Twitter.

The Washington Post reported that a friend of the woman who was named as a friend of the mother was telling them that she was a bright girl who was fun. She said that she and Maranda had a brother who was at Robb Elementary where the shooting happened.

On Wednesday, Mathis’ cousin Deanna Miller posted on Facebook: “My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly I’m so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers.”

Mireles had been an educator for 17 years. Erica Torres recalled the care with which Mireles treated her son Stanley, who has autism, while he was in her third- and fourth grade classes. Stanley was put in charge of rounding up students so he wouldn’t wander around the school.

A family member confirmed to CNN that Mirelles daughter, Adalynn, paid a tribute to her mother on Wednesday. The tweet also included a picture of Adalynn and her mom.

“Mom, you are a hero. I keep telling myself that this isn’t real. I just want to hear your voice,” the tribute read. I would like to thank you mom for being an inspiration to me. I’m proud to be your daughter. My sweet mom, I will see you again.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/us/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting/index.html

Mireles, 57, of the Uvalde Community School District, was born at age 13 and followed by Lexi Rodriguez, 33

Mireles was able to spend her spare time running, hiking, biking and being with her family according to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website.

She was loved by everyone, even more so. Though she was some what reserved, she had a relentless motivation towards her academic studies, and her soft warm demeanor brought the best out in all who knew her. She was so brilliant and witty, and I’m confused as to whether she is actually gone.

Her mother said on Facebook that Maite Rodriguez wanted to go to Texas A&M and become a marine biologist.

Lexi made the honor roll and was given a good citizen award, her parents told CNN. Just before the shooting, the two had just celebrated their daughter’s achievements at school.

The parents said they were proud of their daughter, who loved softball and basketball. She wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up, the family told CNN.

Born to Die: The Loss of the Parkland Shooting Victim, Nikolas Cruz, Sentenced to Life in Prison, and a New Gun-Control Law

The deputy with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office said he responded to the scene of the shooting. The dad wants to see gun violence addressed.

“All I can hope is that she’s just not a number,” he said through tears. “This is enough. Nobody else needs to go through this. We never need to go through this, but we are.

Jailah Nicole Silguero was 10 years old and enjoyed dancing and making TikTok videos, her mother Veronica Luevanos told CNN network partner, Univision.

Before the news of his son’s shooting became public, the father told CNN that he learned about the shooting from friends. He left work and rushed to the school, but officials there did not give him information right away, he said.

As the country reckons with how to prevent more children from being killed at school, the legacies of the Parkland victims live on. Here are their stories:

The gunman, Nikolas Cruz, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A school resource officer was accused of failing to confront the attacker at the school.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act also allows some teachers to be armed – an idea that has been debated in other states after school shootings as political leaders wrestle with the politics of gun-control legislation.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, at least 67 mass shootings have taken place in the US so far this year.

The Texas tragedy spurred the first major federal gun safety law in decades, which took effect in June. It marked the most significant gun legislation since the assault weapons ban of 1994, which expired after 10 years.

The new law supports so-called red flag laws which allow courts to temporarily seize firearms from anyone considered a danger to themselves or others. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also provides funding for school safety and state crisis intervention programs.

Park Lane School Shooting Five-Year-Anniversary: Alyssa Beigel, Your Hero, Always, Always in My Heart

The mother of a girl dropped her off at school Wednesday and said she loved her. The mother rushed to the school when she heard about the shooting. It was too late.

yssa was an amazing soccer player who was smart and successful. You’ll be greatly missed, Alyssa. We love you so much. You’ll always, always be in our hearts.”

“On behalf of the entire Coleman community, we offer heartfelt condolences and prayers for comfort to Alyssa’s family and friends,” the camp posted on Facebook after her death. Your memory can be for a blessing, may it be forever.

“Mr. Beigel was my hero and he still will forever be my hero. I will never forget the actions that he took for me and for fellow students in the classroom,” she told CNN. “I am alive today because of him.”

He was a funny kid, always outgoing, and sometimes quiet. He was sweet and caring and loved by all his family. Most of all he was my baby brother,” Miguel wrote on a GoFundMe page created after the shooting to help pay for funeral expenses.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/us/parkland-school-shooting-5-year-anniversary/index.html

Remembering Nick when he shot himself and killed his father: Reflections on the tragic death of an Indiana student, Manuel Manuel, the assistant football coach, and friend Isabel Dalu

Nick wrote next to his bed that he want to become a Swedish Olympian, and go to Tokyo 2020 to compete for his country. “I will give all I have in my body and my mind to achieve the goals I have set.”

After the shooting, Robert L. Manuel, then-president of the University of Indianapolis, said Nick’s death was “a reminder that we are connected to the larger world, and when tragedy hits in places around the world, it oftentimes affects us at home.”

Feis, an assistant football coach, was killed after he threw himself in front of students to protect them from oncoming bullets, football program spokesperson Denis Lehtio said after the shooting.

He was the one who made sure everyone else’s needs were met. He was a hard worker. He worked after school, on the weekends, mowing lawns, just helping as many people as possible.”

“My heart is broken,” her father, Fred Guttenberg, posted on Facebook after the massacre. “Jennifer Bloom Guttenberg and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school. We lost our daughter and my son lost her sister.

“I am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets through this,” the father continued. We apologize for not reacting to everyone individually, we appreciate all of the calls and messages. Hugs to all and hold your children tight.”

Eddie and Janice had learned of the massacre in South Carolina from TV reports, they told WYFF.

We didn’t hear anything about Luke the entire day. We kept hoping that they would find him in shock.

At 7 am, I said, ‘I don’t like this.’ This is not good,’” her husband said. “Finally, (police) called us at 1 a.m. and said Luke was among the students that had been killed.”

The deadly rampage seemed inexplicable. He was a good kid. He … never got in trouble,” Janice Stroud said. The last of my daughter’s children that lived at home was him.

Isabel Dalu, a close friend of Cara’s family, testified last year during the gunman’s trial about all the things the 14-year-old was looking forward to before she was gunned down:

Cara was excited to be dancing in the parade because she had started Irish dancing again. The family was going to visit Ireland in the summer.

“She dreamed of her first date, her first kiss and falling in love. Cara dreamed of going to homecoming and prom, she dreamed of graduating at the top of her class with all of her loved ones watching,” Isabel said.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/us/parkland-school-shooting-5-year-anniversary/index.html

A Friendship Story of a Teen, Guac, and the Loss of his Best Friends Meadow Pollack (D’Aria)

Her death had an impact on Winter Guard International. “No student should ever go to school afraid,” the group said.

He was known as Guac among his friends at the high school. The paper said that his interests were soccer, urban graffiti, and hip-hop.

The teen had sent a message to his girlfriend before he died, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

“While we will not have the opportunity to watch her grow up and become the amazing woman we know she would become, we are keeping an eternal perspective,” her family said.

Meadow was a young woman who was bright and energetic. D’Aria said they were looking forward to her joining their community in the fall.

“Please say a prayer for the family of an amazing girl I got to call my best friend growing up Meadow Pollack … her life was taken way too soon and I have no words to describe how this feels,” Lovito wrote on facebook.

“Helena, we miss you dearly and are so incredibly sorry that your life was cut short. You didn’t deserve this. We will miss you a lot.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/us/parkland-school-shooting-5-year-anniversary/index.html

The Stoneman Douglas Marching Eagles: The Memory of Alex Fighting Through the Night of September 11, 2001, in honor of Alex O. Milnor

“In an effort to continue his memory, this scholarship is being created to help other students experience the joys of music as well as fund increased security at schools. Please help keep Alex’s spirit alive. “The money raised will be sent to the Stoneman Douglas Marching Eagles.”

She never knew that a letter arrived the day after the shooting, because it was sent in the mail.

His close friend, Kelsey Friend, and other classmates said Peter was shot while holding a door open to let fellow students get to safety. After the shooting, thousands of people signed a White House petition asking for the JROTC member to be buried with military honors.

When she saw images of people who had died on the Internet, she started screaming and crying.

She said that not having him in the hallways made it difficult to not have a laugh with him. “He used to make me smile. And now he’s gone.”