At least 19 children killed in Texas elementary school shooting
At least 19 children and two adults died in mass shooting at elementary school in in small town of Uvalde, Texas.
Anastasia Riddle and Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY
The focus is on fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia, who was killed while defending her students during a school shooting in Texas. of GoFundMe campaign in the spotlight of Bill Poult – who urged him to 3.2 million Twitter followers donate money on Wednesday to cover funeral expenses and help victims family.
Garcia, together with co-teacher Eva Mireles were among the 21 killed in shooting at robb elementary school in Uvalde, number including 19 children.
A school that only teaches second via 4th graders according to his website still has a banner on the main page saying “Teacher Appreciation Week”.
This mass shooting allegedly carried out by an 18-year-old suspect who recently acquired semi-automatic rifle found in crime scene, happened 48 hours before the students celebrated their last day of school before summer holidays.
John Martinez, 21, was born and raised Garcia’s nephew. in Uvalde tweeted from his @fuhknjo account: “My tia (aunt) did not survive, she sacrificed herself to protect the children. in her class, i beg of you to keep mine family including everything of her family in All your prayers, IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO. she was loved by many and will truly be missed.”
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He told the Free Press: “Please know and allow people know on on behalf of of in familyI more than grateful and delighted with the all-consuming love and support, whether it be kind words, donations or even just dissemination of information means a lot to us.”
Martinez sent a photo of his aunt is standing with her son dressed in his Marine Corps uniform. unthinkable family members that Garcia son was trained for combat and his mother school teacher, died in hail of Shooting, Martinez said.
“Things like This should not happening in schools, he said. – This is wrong. This is not good.”
Pulte told Free Press on Wednesday that he noticed about $12,000 had been raised. on site within first ten hours and family reached out hoping to reach his $30,000 campaign goal. After Pulte’s tweet, donations immediately shot past $50,000 from nearly 2,000 donors.
The Free Press has confirmed that the account has been verified by the site.
Pulte who reached him home in Boca Raton, Florida, said he spoke with Garcia family Wednesday morning. He is known internationally for his Twitter charity that benefits people in trouble.
“My Child’s Teacher”
“It’s devastating,” said Pulte, a philanthropist. with deep ties to Detroit and summer home in Cheboygan areawhere is he going in June.
“I thought of some of my child’s teachers when I looked at the photo of this lady,” he said. – We have to use in full force of Twitter Charity to care of her. This money everything goes to her family. People want take care of Other people.”
Remote, who uses Twitter to personally donate people in need, also uses social media platform for more attention causes. He declined to tell how he donated a lot to Garcia. His gifts ranged from $10 to $50,000. in in past.
“Majority of gifts come from our teammates,” he said.
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Comments in English and Spanish on GoFundMe donation page spices up with #teampulte reflecting the multitude people who follow Pulte lead during times of tragedy.
“Lot like Shooting in Oxford, Michigan, we’re trying use social media raise funds immediately for people in crisis, he said. – We using in power of millions of teammates to raise funds quickly for the funeral of this teacher.
Donors from across the US included prayers and hope for recovery on contribution page. Garcia remembered for her kindness and generosity.
Her personal page on school website said she was “so excited” by this school year, her 23rd place at Robb Elementary and fifth teaching next to Mireles.
In 2019 Garcia was one of 19 San Antonioarea teachers named the finalist for Trinity University prize which recognizes excellence in training, according to NBC News.
Garcia’s nephew Steven Anthony Martinez, 27 of San Antonio is native of Uvalde and told the Free Press that his family thankful for donations.
“We super grateful,” he said.
Now Garcia’s husband has four children and extended family plan funeral services, and with families of 20 other victims. The teachers were found covering the bodies of in young childrenaccording to news reports.
The Free Press confirmed that the families set up a series of verified GoFundMe campaigns for shooting victims and community and are in process of checking others.
In the afternoon, Pulte tweeted plea for ten-year-old Tess Mata after meeting with goal for Garcia. He received a direct message request on Twitter from the child’s sister.
Pulte immediately tweeted. Within two hours, campaign reached $13,000 of his $25,000 goal.
And the donations kept pouring in in.
By Wednesday afternoon verified campaigns for:
- Irma Garcia Reached $55,326 of $30,000 goal
- Javier Lopez, 10 years old first child identified, reached $92,709 of $17,000 goal
- Jace Carmelo Luevanos, 10, earned $25,709. of $18,000 goal
- Los Verdes Supporters Group of Austin grossed $56,287. of $65,000
- VictimsFirst raised $1,038,010. of $2 million (increased from $100,000 goal) for his Texas Elementary School Shooting Victims Fund
Fundraising Sites for victims will added how they are reviewed and verified. Link to help may be found here.
robb elementary posted donation request on its homepage on Wednesday afternoon. The account was opened in the First State Bank. of uvalde for families of Robb Elementary School, according to the school website.
In addition, checks payable to the Robb School Memorial Fund may be mailed to 200 E Nopal St. Uvalde, TX 78801.
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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid.
