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They were smart, funny, loved


In a mass casualty event on May 24, one man shot and killed 19 children and two teachers, and wounded at least 17 others at Robb Elementary School. Those victims have now been identified by family members.

They consist of co-teachers Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia, who taught fourth-grade; family accounts indicate both women died trying to protect their students.

Eva Mireles

Mireles was married to a Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District officer, and had a daughter. She had been an educator for over 17 years, including working at Benson Elementary.

She had been co-teaching with Garcia at Robb school for five years. According to her UCISD biography, she was certified in special education, and as a bilingual generalist in Spanish. Her profile says she loved running and hiking, and had taken up bicycle riding.

Mireles participated in races such as the Southwest Texas Junior College Turkey Trot 5K, where she came in first in the 35-39-year-old division in 2015, with a race time of 25 minutes.

In a tribute written by her daughter, Adalynn Ruiz, on Facebook, she spoke of her mother being an early riser and an avid Crossfit buff who adored the family pets. She said her mother was her best friend, and an inspiration who raised her to be strong.

Irma Garcia

Garcia had been teaching for approximately 23 years at UCISD, and in correspondence with Leader-News staff in 2019, she said, “I can’t say enough about Ms. Mireles. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing partner.”

She was married for more than 24 years to Joe Garcia, who died just days after the shooting of a suspected heart attack, which the family described as a broken heart, on May 26.

The couple have four children, including a son training to be a U.S. Marine and another attending Texas State University. Her eldest daughter is a sophomore in high school and her youngest is in seventh grade. In an awards ceremony held May 2, 2019, at the Willie De Leon Civic Center, Garcia was recognized as an elementary education top teacher; she was also recognized as a top teacher during the 2008-09 school year. In addition to being named campus teacher of the year on numerous occasions, she was a 2019 Trinity Prize for Excellence in teaching finalist.

In a news article published Feb. 3, 2019, Garcia said she considered her peers at Robb school family. She said she found inspiration in her mother’s words regarding education. “My mother always said that an education is something that no one can ever take away from you,” she said. “It’s more valuable than any possession you will ever own.” Garcia said in the story she shared that sentiment with her students.

Maite Yuleana Rodriguez

Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, 10, was the daughter of Ana Rodriguez and Adrean Rodriguez. According to her mother, her favorite color was green, and she loved both lime-green Converse shoes and jalepeños. She enjoyed watching the show “Attack on Titan,” her favorite meal was the number 13 from Whataburger, and she enjoyed the mango dragonfruit drink from Starbucks. She was on the AB honor roll at Robb.

“Her dream to become a marine biologist started in kindergarten, and she had her heart set on Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. She loved animals and and babies,” her mother wrote on Facebook. 

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio

Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, 10, was the daughter of Kimberly and Felix Rubio. She was recognized for making the A honor roll at Robb at an awards ceremony held the morning of May 24, before the shooting. She also received the good citizen award. Her mother said she wanted to be a lawyer. She was athletic and played softball, and enjoyed fishing and kayaking with her father. She was artistic, drawing things for her mother, and loved her siblings. She was quick-witted, good at math, a little bit sarcastic, and could be fearless. She enjoyed watching the television show “Criminal Minds.”

Xavier Lopez

Xavier Lopez, 10, was the son of Felicha Martinez and Abel Lopez. The family said on a GoFundMe page they believe he joined his grandfather, Benny, in the kingdom of heaven. He made the honor roll, and received an award Tuesday before the shooting. Family members said his favorite subject was art. He played soccer and baseball, and he loved dancing with his family. His mother said in an interview that he was a funny child, never serious, and she would never forget his smile. His grandmother, Amelia Sandoval, said he was the life of the party.

Eliahna Garcia

Eliahna “Ellie” Garcia, 9, was the daughter of Jennifer Lugo and Steven Garcia. Her mother said she prayed out loud every night. Her father, a DJ and performer, said she loved coming to the studio with him and being on the microphone. She was a joyful child who was already planning her quinceañera, to celebrate her 15th birthday, by creating dances. In a TikTok video she made, posted by her father, she said,“Jesus he died for us, so when we die we’ll be up there for him.” She also said she had three pictures of Jesus in her room. She would have turned 10 this week, on June 4. Her grandparents, Nelda and Rogelio Lugo, said she wanted to be a teacher, and loved the movie “Encanto.” 

Layla Salazar

Layla Salazar, 10, was the daughter of Melinda Alejandro Salazar and Vincent Salazar. Her father said she won six races at the Robb school field day, and she enjoyed singing along with “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses while he was taking her to school. She also liked dancing to TikTok videos. Her cousin, Neva Alejandro, said she was the apple of her father’s eye.

Jailah Nicole Silguero

Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10, was the daughter of Veronica Luevanos and Jacob Silguero. In an interview, her mother said she didn’t want to go to school Tuesday, which was unusual. She enjoyed dancing and making TikTok videos, and participated in the SWTJC Turkey Trot.

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10, was the cousin of Jailah Silguero, and the son of Christina Quiroz and Jose Luevanos. He and his mother resided with his grandfather, Carmelo Quiroz, who said he would brew them a pot of coffee every morning. He enjoyed coloring, and brought friends home to play in his yard, about a block from the school. He had a dog named Fifi. 

Jackie Cazares,

Jackie Cazares, 10, is the daughter of Gloria Cazares and Jacinto Cazares. Her family said she was a social child who enjoyed being the center of attention. She celebrated her first communion on May 8, and her mother said in a social media post she enjoyed every moment. She attended the Uvalde School of Gymnastics.

Annabell G. Rodriguez

 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was the cousin of Jackie Cazares, and the family said the girls were very close. She is the daughter of Jessie Rodriguez and had a twin sister who is homeschooled. She was on the AB honor roll and earned a music certificate at Robb. Her father said she was often on the honor roll, and she loved school. He said she was curious, and enjoyed playing with her sister. She loved the family dog, Patrona, and she wanted to be a veterinarian, her father said in an interview.

Amerie Jo Garz

Amerie Jo Garza, 10, is the daughter of Kimberly Garcia and step-father Angel Garza, and Alfred Garza III. Her step-father said he walked her to school on Tuesday, before the shooting. She turned 10 on May 10. The family said the child attempted to call 911 before she was killed. She made the AB honor roll and was awarded a certificate at the awards ceremony. Her family said she was very social, and enjoyed playing with friends at recess. They said she was sassy, and enjoyed eating food from Chick-fil-A and drinking vanilla bean frappuccinos from Starbucks. She loved swimming and drawing, and she wanted to be an art teacher.

Maranda Gail Mathis

Maranda Gail Mathis, 11, was the daughter of Deanna Gornto and Brian Mathis Jr. A family friend, Leslie Ruiz, said the child’s best friend was her brother, who was also inside the school when the shooting started. She described Mathis as a bright and spunky child who had good manners. Her family described her a a sweet, shy tomboy who enjoyed time spent outdoors.

Makenna Lee Elrod

Makenna Lee Elrod, 10, was the daughter of April Elrod and Brian Elrod. Her aunt, Allison McCullough, said she was beautiful, funny and smart. She said she had a smile which would light up a room. The family said she loved feeding animals at a ranch with her father. She enjoyed singing and dancing, as well as softball and gymnastics.

Jose Manuel Flores Jr.

Jose Manuel Flores Jr., 10, the son of Alyssa Mae Rodriguez and Jose Manuel Flores, also received an award for making the honor roll at Robb. His uncle, Christopher Salazar, said he was a happy little boy who loved to laugh and have fun, and he was very smart. He enjoyed baseball and playing video games.

Tess Marie Mata

Tess Marie Mata, 10, is the daughter of Veronica Mata, a kindergarten teacher, and Jerry Mata. She hoped to go to Disney World again, having gone several years ago, and was saving money for the trip. She was a fan of Ariana Grande and the show “Victorious,” and a baseball player and fan of the Houston Astros. She played second base, the same as her idol, José Altuve. Her walls were purple, and her grandparents drove her to and from school daily.

Uziyah Garcia

Uziyah Garcia, 9, was the son of Mandy Renfro and Sergio Garcia. He enjoyed playing video games and football. His father said he particularly enjoyed the game “Fortnite” and enjoyed jumping on a trampoline. He enjoyed karaoke. His grandfather, Manny Renfro, said during a spring break visit to his San Angelo home, he taught the boy football pass patterns. He said the child was the sweetest boy he’d ever known. His Aunt, Leticia Garcia, said he was very polite and loved Jesus, and his parents.

Alithia Haven Ramirez

Alithia Haven Ramirez, 10, was the daughter of Ryan Ramirez. She loved to play soccer, and was artistic. Her father said she recently sent a “Google Doodle” drawing in for a contest. Her grandmother, Rosa Maria Ramirez, said she loved to draw, and that the sweet child rarely got in trouble. 

Eliahana Cruz Torres, 

Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, played on a softball team, and hoped to make the all-star team. Her aunt, Leandra Vera, said she was nervous and excited to play in a softball game set Tuesday, the day of the shooting, when the league was set to announce who had made the all-stars.

Rojelio Torres

Rojelio Torres, 10, was the son of Eva Dulia Orta. His mother said he was a very loving and smart child. His aunt, Precious Perez, said he was intelligent and hardworking, and a helpful person.

Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo

Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo turned 10 in January. She was the daughter of Maria Magdalene Garcia and Juan Julian Bravo Her cousin, Austin Ayala, said the family waited hours to find out what happened on Tuesday. He said she put a smile on everyones face.