MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

Texas school shooting: Distressed parents look for MISSING children after deadly massacre

Many parents have also been desperately looking for their missing children in hospitals and funeral homes after gunman Salvador Ramos opened fire at Robb Elementary School

UVALDE, TEXAS: In the aftermath of the deadly Texas school shooting where teen gunman Salvador Ramos opened fire and killed over 20 people, desperate parents are still searching for their missing children. At present, the death toll has risen to 22, with at least 19 children killed at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24. Other victims include one teacher and a second school employee. Ramos was later shot dead by officials.

Among many such parents is the father of Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin tweeted. "The father of 10-year-old Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez tells us his daughter is missing following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, where she is a student. He provided her photo to Texas Rangers. Many parents going through this tonight," he wrote. 

READ MORE

Who was Salvador Ramos? Gunman, 18, killed after massacring 19 children and 2 teachers in Texas school

Who was Salvador Ramos' grandmother? Texas school shooter KILLED her before massacre

In another tweet, which could not be independently verified by MEAWW, a user shared a collage of many children who are said to be missing. "Heres a collage of all the kids that went missing today in texas, if you have any info; please keep a lookout and contact the Uvalde Texas Police Department," the user wrote. 

For Ryan Ramirez, a foreman for a utility contracting company, the wait for his daughter is endless. Ramirez had last seen his daughter Alithia on Tuesday morning, when he dropped her off at the school, he told The Daily Beast. He has taken to Facebook to express his concern now. "Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I Called all the hospitals and nothing," he wrote, sharing a picture of his child. 

Brandon Elrod told an ABC News affiliate that he has been looking for his daughter, Makenna, 10. Unable to find her at the school, he began asking about funeral homes in the area. Another parent, Federico Torres, told KHOU he was searching for his 10-year-old son Rogelio. Officials at the hospital and at the civic center could not help him, he said.

Deanna Miller wrote on Facebook that her little cousin has been missing. "My little cousin Miranda Mathis is missing please lord hear our prayers and please let these babies just be misplaced and harm free. If anyone has seen her please contact me," she wrote, sharing a picture of Mathis. Another devastated mother, Jennifer Lugo, sought help in finding her child, writing on Facebook, "If anyone hears or sees anything please let me know.This picture was taken this morning . Everyone is telling to check places I can’t leave !!!!! Please HELPPPPP !!!"

Hours before carrying out the massacre, the shooter sent a chilling message to an acquaintance on Instagram, saying, "I'm about to". Born in North Dakota, Ramos lived in Uvalde. He was a student at Uvalde High School before he found work at Wendy's. Some of the victims of the deadly shooting that have been identified are students Xavier Lopez, Nevaeh Bravo, Amerie Jo Garza, Uziyah Garcia, and teachers Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles.

Tuesday's shooting was one of the deadliest school massacres in US history. The incident brings to mind two other similar shootings: one at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed in 2012, and another where 32 people were killed at Virginia Tech in 2007. This shooting also comes just days after 10 people were shot dead by a gunman at a supermarket in Buffalo.