Two young victims of the Uvalde elementary school shooting are set to be buried next to each other after texting "I love you" each night.
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez and Xavier James Lopez - both 10 years old - were among the victims of the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. Earlier that morning, they had posed for pictures together at an awards ceremony in the school cafeteria.
Just two days before the students' summer break, an 18-year-0ld gunman - who authorities have named as Salvador Ramos - went on a rampage after shooting his grandmother in the head and crashing a vehicle near the school. Ramos also reportedly sent a series of disturbing texts to a 15-year-old girl in Germany prior to the shooting.
Ramos entered the elementary school carrying a handgun, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, and high-capacity magazines. After opening fire on two classrooms, he killed 19 children between the ages of nine and 11, as well as two teachers.
As reported by People, best friends Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez and Xavier James Lopez were both killed in the attack.
Their parents revealed how the two fourth-graders were so close that they would pass each other notes in class, kept pictures of each other, and their families would get together to host barbecues.
Annabell's mother, Monica Gallegos, told ABC News that the children would even text each other "I love you" each night before bed.
"She had a big old crush on him," Gallegos said about her daughter.
Gallegos would joke with Xavier's mother, Felicha Martinez, about the kids' relationship.
She said: "Me and Felicha would laugh, like, 'How do y'all know about love?'"
The parents have now announced that Annabell and Xavier will be buried next to each other.
However, as the families finalize the funeral plans, Gallegos tells ABC News that she's still "not ready" to say goodbye to her daughter.
Both children were in the class of teacher Arnulfo Reyes, who survived the attack despite being shot multiple times by the teenage gunman.
In a recent interview with ABC News, Reyes has given a harrowing account of the attack, that left all 11 of his students dead.
"I feel so bad for the parents because they lost a child," Reyes told ABC News' Amy Robach from a San Antonio hospital, where he is still recovering from his injuries. "But they lost one child. I lost 11 that day, all at one time."
The teacher went on to slam local police, calling them "cowards" for waiting so long before entering the school and taking out the gunman.
"After everything, I get more angry because you have a bulletproof vest. I had nothing. You're supposed to protect and serve," he said, adding: "There is no excuse for their actions and I will never forgive them."
