Texas school shooting: Hero teacher killed while ‘trying to protect her young students’

Mother and special education teacher Eva Mireles, 44, has been named as a victim of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Texas, which killed 19 children and two adults

A teacher who tried to protect her young students from a killer has been named as one of the victims of the Texas school massacre.

Eva Mireles, a 44-year-old wife and mother, was a special education teacher at Robb Elementary who had worked in the school district for 17 years, her aunt said in a message confirming she was among the dead.

Lydia Martinez Delgado told the New York Times that her niece was shot dead Tuesday trying to shield the children in her classroom and that she was “very much loved.”

“She was the fun of the party,” Ms. Delgado said.

Ms Mireles was married to local police officer Ruben Ruiz, 43, and her profile on the school website describes her as the mother of a college-aged daughter.

It says: “I have been an educator for 17 years. I have been teaching with Mrs. Garcia for 5 years.

“I have a supportive, fun and loving family that includes a UCISD officer (Ruiz), a college-educated daughter (Adalynn) and three furry friends (Callie, Kane and Koda). I love running, hiking and now you might see me riding my bike!!”

Ms Delgado spoke of her anger at how the shootings continue in the United States following the death of her niece.

She stated: “I am furious that these shootings are continuing. These children are innocent. Guns shouldn’t be easily accessible to everyone. This is my hometown, a small community of less than 20,000 people.

“I never thought this would happen to especially loved ones… All we can do is pray hard for our country, our state, our schools and especially for everyone’s families.”

Among those still missing after the massacre is Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, aged 10, and her father shared a photo of her in hopes she will be found.

Her father told Fox News that he hasn’t had any contact with Annabelle since the shooting.

18-year-old Salvador Ramos opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde before being shot dead by police.

Judging by the grades of the students enrolled in the school, the victims were between 7 and 10 years old.

The motive for the massacre was initially unknown.

The slaughter came just 10 days after 10 people were killed in Buffalo, New York, in a predominantly black neighborhood.

Authorities have charged an 18-year-old man who they say traveled hundreds of miles to Buffalo and opened fire with an assault rifle at a grocery store.