As grieving families are mourning the loss of their loved ones following the horrific mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, a funeral home is rallying around them to offer support.
Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, which is just two blocks from the school, announced that it has committed to providing free services for all those killed in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. “We have fought together as a community and we will pull together as one now in our time of need,” Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home said in a Facebook post Tuesday evening. “Hillcrest will be assisting families with NO COST for funerals for all involved in today’s horrific events. Prayer for our small amazing town.”
As we previously reported, 19 children were killed in the shooting, along with two teachers. Superintendent Hal Harrell said in an evening update that the rest of the school year has been canceled. Plans for graduation ceremonies and all other activities have been put on hold, KENS5 reports.
These are 17 of the 19 children identified by loved ones so far this morning from yesterday's tragic school shooting in #Uvalde, Texas. Officials now say that all of the victims were in the same 4th grade classroom at #RobbElementary Say their names. #uvaldetx #UvaldeStrong pic.twitter.com/RAYb0w3Pqo
— Cassandra Webb (@cassandrawebbtv) May 25, 2022
RELATED: Second Teacher Killed In Texas School Massacre Identified
What happened on Tuesday?
It all started Tuesday morning. An 18-year-old male, identified as Salvador Ramos, armed with a rifle, shot his grandmother before driving to Robb Elementary School and overpowering a school officer, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Erick Estrada. The killer entered the classroom, locked the door and then began shooting. Officers arriving on the scene started breaking windows around the school to grab students and teachers . A tactical team forced its way into the classroom and faced gunfire but was “able to shoot and kill that suspect.’’
Congressman Tony Gonzales, who represents the area, said in a statement, “I am heartbroken for our South Texas community. It is devastating when our innocent children become the victims of senseless violence. We are devastated.”
The mass shooting comes less than two weeks after an alleged white supremacist killed 10 people inside a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y. Authorities have said the Buffalo shooting was a hate crime in which the suspect targeted Black people.
President Biden was on his way back from Asia when it all happened, and after he was briefed, he ordered the flags at the White House along with other federal buildings to be flown at half-staff. He later shared remarks saying,
“I had hoped when I became president I would not have to do this — again,” the president said, with longtime teacher first lady Jill Biden at his side. “Another massacre. Uvalde, Texas. An elementary school. Beautiful, innocent second, third and fourth graders. And how many scores of little children who witnessed what happened — see their friends die, as if they’re in a battlefield, for God’s sake. They’ll live with it the rest of their lives.”
“As a nation, we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Mr. Biden said. “When in God’s name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?”
RELATED: Salvador Ramos Sent Message To IG Follower About Plot Hours Before Shooting