Grandmother Devastated After Losing Her 10-Yr-Old Grandson To Texas Shooting | "He Was A Happy Child, Full of Life"

Trigger warning: This story contains themes of gun violence that some readers may find distressing

The grandmother of a boy killed in the Texas school shooting is giving strength to others who lost loved ones in the tragic incident. Fourth-grader Xavier Lopez was one of the 19 children, aged between 7 and 10, who was killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Amelia Sandoval, the boy's grandmother described him as a happy child full of life. "When his parents had BBQs, he was always the life of the party. He liked dancing. He always loved doing things with his mom. Doing face masks. Doing TikToks. He just did a TikTok the other day with her," said his grandmother Sandoval, reported Good Morning America. 

Xavier Lopez was honored at the school's honor roll call just hours before the shooting and his mother was there to support and cheer him. Little did she know it was the last time she would see him. Sandoval is heartbroken to lose her grandson but she is keeping faith in God to guide all those who lost loved ones through the pain. "It's just so hard. God is going to see us through this tragic loss," she said. Speaking of the 10-year-old, she recalled that he was so happy that he made the A and B honor roll. "We pray for the other parents going through similar situations. My prayers and our sincere condolences go out to them as well. We can get through this. We stand together and pray," she continued, fighting back tears. "We can get through this. Just stand together. Stand strong."

An 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos, allegedly purchased two assault rifles, just days after his 18th birthday. He shot his grandmother before heading to the elementary school in Texas and killing 19 children and two teachers. Seventeen other kids were injured as well. Samuel Salinas, a 10-year-old boy who survived the shooting, recalled the ordeal in an interview with ABC News. "[The shooter] came in and said, 'You're all gonna die,' and just started shooting," said Salinas, who was in Irma Garcia's fourth-grade class. It was the last school day ahead of summer break and the mood was buoyant in the school. "It was a normal day until my teacher said we're on severe lockdown," he recalled. "And then there was shooting in the windows."

"He shot the teacher and then he shot the kids," said Salinas. The kids were screaming in the classroom as Ramos shot them. Salinas survived by a hair's breadth. "I think he was aiming at me," said Salinas, but hit a chair that was between him and the shooter. The shrapnel struck Salinas' thigh and got lodged in his leg. He pretended to be dead, like a few of his other classmates. "I played dead so he wouldn't shoot me," he said.

The gunman's father, Salvador Ramos, was heartbroken at what his son did and said he wished the 18-year-old had just killed him. Ramos said the shooting was unexpected. “I just want the people to know I’m sorry man, [for] what my son did. I never expected my son to do something like that,” he told The Daily Beast. “He should’ve just killed me, you know, instead of doing something like that to someone.” The 18-year-old had shot his grandmother before heading to the elementary school. Ramos was at work when his mother called him to let him know what had happened. Ramos was shocked and even concerned for his son. He hadn't seen this coming. He started to call the local jail to check if his son was there and only then did it hit him that his son was killed by the cops. “They killed my baby man,” he said. "I’m never gonna see my son again, just like they’re not gonna see their kids. And that hurts me.” 

References: 
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/emotional-grandmother-texas-school-shooting-victim-calls-unity-84970528
https://abcnews.go.com/US/student-survived-texas-school-shooting-recalls-gunman-youre/story?id=85010075
https://www.thedailybeast.com/father-of-uvalde-shooter-salvador-ramos-says-he-shouldve-just-killed-me?via=twitter_page


Cover Image source: YouTube Screenshot Good Morning America

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