10-YO Tried Calling 911 to Save Everyone During Texas Shooting Before Being Killed | ‘She Was a Hero’

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

A 10-year-girl died while trying to call 911 on her cell phone to alert the police about the shooter in her elementary school in Uvalde Texas.

An 18-year-old man named Salvador Ramos walked into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazines, and a handgun. This was the deadliest school shooting in America since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.

Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth-grader, had just celebrated her 10th birthday two weeks before being shot, said her grandmother, according to PEOPLE. She was later identified as one of the victims. Angel Garza, Amerie's Dad, is a Med Aide and he rushed to the school after learning about the shooting. As law enforcement officers brought kids out, he helped provide first aid. One girl was crying and covered in blood from head to toe. "She was hysterical saying they shot her best friend," said Angel Garza "I asked the little girl the name of her friend and she said, "Amerie," said Garza, tears pouring down his cheeks as he recalled the moment he learned his daughter had died.

The children were in a joyful mood as it was the last day of school ahead of the summer break. Amerie's Dad had to wait seven hours before finally finding Amerie. He shared a picture of his daughter sitting on his lap and shared a message on Facebook. "My little love is now flying high with the angels above," wrote Amerie's dad. "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 mother Kimberly Garcia wrote on Facebook, "You did not deserve this my sweet baby girl. Mommy loves you, mommy can’t sleep without you. Mommy needs you, Amerie I can’t do this life without you. How am I supposed to live life without you? I will never understand. I love you and I’ll never be the same, ever again," she wrote.

Amerie was also one of the first children to be shot to death by the 18-year-old gunman, according to her grandmother. "He could have just taken her phone away," said her grandmother Berlinda Arreola, 49. "He could have just broke it. Done something. And he just shot her." Arreola said she was courageous to seek help at the time of the crisis. "She was a hero trying to call 911, to save her and her friends," she said. Loved ones started a GoFundMe campaign to help the family raise money for funeral expenses.

Amerie Jo Garza was a caring and loving sister to her 3-year-old brother Zayne. Arreola said Amerie was instinctively helpful and protective, especially of her brother. The 10-year-old's grandmother said Amerie never went to school without kissing her little brother. Amerie enjoyed drawing and swimming. Arreola also described Amerie as a very bright student who won the school's "Heart of Gold" award last year. She was also handed an Honor Roll certificate just minutes prior to the shooter storming into her classroom and killing her and her classmates.

The police are coming under heavy criticism after a school district security officer outside the school "encountered" Salvador Ramos before the latter entered the school. He then ran inside and fired at two arriving Uvalde police officers outside the building, said Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine, reported NPR. The police officers were injured. Ramos then charged into a classroom and started to fire at kids. Ramos was on the premises of the school for over 40 minutes before he was finally killed by cops. 

The shooter allegedly texted a girl in Germany about his plans to shoot kids at an elementary school. Screenshots of the texts show the 18-year-old being irritated by his grandmother. "It's annoying," he texted. Six minutes later, he texted again, "I just shot my grandma in her head." Within seconds, another text followed, "Ima go shoot up a(n) elementary school rn (right now)." His grandmother survived and is currently undergoing treatment. The authorities are yet to determine a motive. "We don't see a motive or catalyst right now," said McCraw of the Department of Public Safety. Ramos legally bought the rifle and a second one, just after his birthday, said authorities.

References:

https://people.com/crime/amerie-jo-garza-texas-school-shooting-victim-tried-calling-911-hero/

https://www.facebook.com/angel.garza.3939/posts/2796718300471590

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=724078548732576&set=a.113465029793934

https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-cost-for-amerie-jo-garza?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/26/1101418947/onlookers-urged-police-to-charge-into-texas-school

Cover Image Source: GoFundMe

The school shooting at Uvalde, Texas, is a developing story, and we’ll update as we learn more. Information is swiftly changing and Women Working is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency in developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication.

If you're struggling to cope with grief, and need help, please reach out to Crisis response at 1-800-203-CARE (2273)