The fourth-grade teacher who was fatally shot along with at least 19 children in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, has been identified as 44-year-old Eva Mireles.
Mireles was identified on Tuesday as one of the 21 victims of the shooting at the Robb Elementary school in the town of Uvalde. At the time of writing, 19 children and two adults were killed in the massacre.
Mireles had worked in the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District for 17 years, her aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, revealed in a statement.
Per Sky News, Delgado said: "I'm furious that these shootings continue. These children are innocent. Rifles should not be easily available to all. This is my hometown, a small community of less than 20,000. I never imagined this would happen to especially loved ones ... All we can do is pray hard for our country, state, schools, and especially the families of all."
According to Robb Elementary School's website, Mireles was a mother and wife who had a penchant for hiking and running.
The gunman has been identified by police as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. He reportedly made his way inside the school with a handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle before "horrifically, incomprehensibly" opening fire, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said.
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief of Police Pete Arredondo has said that the shooting took place at 11:32AM (local time) on Tuesday, May 24.
The teenager is also suspected of shooting his grandmother before entering the school. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Erick Estrada, she is in a critical condition.
According to reports, Ramos crashed a vehicle near the school before entering the elementary school. He was able to enter several classrooms during the rampage.
Delgado told the New York Times her niece had lost her life while trying to protect her students. She went on describe her as "very loved" and the "fun of the party".
Amber Ybarra, a 34-year-old relative of Mireles, referred to the late teacher as having been an "adventurous" person.
"I would definitely say those wonderful things about her. She is definitely going to be very missed," she added.
