Texas shooting: 10-year-old girl was shot as she called 911, heartbroken grandmother says

There have been more than 200 mass shootings in the US in 2022 - there's only been 145 days

A 10-year-old girl who was killed during the Texas school shooting at Robb Elementary in the city of Uvalde, was reportedly shot dead for calling 911, her grandmother claims. The first victims have now been identified and the death toll has risen to 21 - though this number could still increase; among them was fourth-grader Amerie Jo Garza, who "died a hero trying to get help for her and her fellow classmates", grandmother Berlinda Irene Arreola told US outlet The Daily Beast. Amerie Jo, who had been awarded an honour roll certificate that morning, was described as a "super-outgoing... teacher's pet". She is survived by her three-year-old brother, grandmother Berlinda, stepdad Angel and her mother whose identity has not been revealed at this time. Dad Angel posted a plea on Facebook after he had been waiting more than seven hours to hear if his daughter was safe; he later replied to the post following the tragic news, thanking everyone for their prayers. [caption id="attachment_338092" align="alignnone" width="1200"]

Credit: Angel Garza Facebook/Berlinda Irene Arreola[/caption] Arreola explained how local authorities and survivors of the shooting told her how "the gunman went in and he told the children, 'You’re going to die.'" In possession of a phone, the 10-year-old dialled 911 and "instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, [the shooter] shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend", adding that her best friend was "covered in her blood.” She is said to have died instantly. She went on to say of her granddaughter: "She had a generous heart. She was always there to lend anybody a helping hand... She was very smart and she was looking forward to making a life for herself.” Garza was among 18 other children aged between 7-10 killed in the Texas shooting, along with two teachers: Irma Garcia, 46, and Eva Mireles, 44. The shooter, now identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, is also said to have shared a haunting social media message just hours before he opened fire on the elementary school. https://twitter.com/JOE_co_uk/status/1529375502963724288?s=20&t=Jo4wE5db3d4JWLfFXMbT5g