Families gather to remember loved ones and search for missing after Texas shooting

The attack by an armed teenager, who was killed by the police, is the deadliest US school shooting in years

Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters

A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters

Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters

Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters

A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters

People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters

Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP

People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP

Flowers are left outside the school. AFP

Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo

Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP

A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP

Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP

Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP

The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters

Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters

People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP

Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA

A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP

Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Families at the vigil. AFP

A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP

Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP

Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP

Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters

A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg

Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

Distraught families gathered at a local civic centre and turned to social media to mourn children who were killed by a lone teenage gunman at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday, as the death toll rose to at least 19 pupils.

Authorities said the gunman, 18, also killed two teachers before he was killed by police.

By nightfall, the names of those killed during Tuesday’s attack at Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde began to emerge, as families made desperate pleas for help finding those missing.

The attack is the deadliest US school shooting in years and the latest in a spree of gun violence across America.

One man at the civic centre walked away sobbing into his phone that “she is gone”.

On the backside of the building, a woman stood by herself, alternately crying and yelling into her phone, shaking her fist and stamping her feet.

Manny Renfro said he received word on Tuesday that his grandson, Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed.

“The sweetest little boy that I have ever known,” Mr Renfro said. “I am not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”

Renfro said Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo during spring break.

“We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,” Mr Renfro said.

“There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practised.”

Loving wife and mother

Fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles, 44, was remembered as a loving mother and wife.

“She was adventurous. I would definitely say those wonderful things about her. She is definitely going to be very missed,” said relative Amber Ybarra, 34, from San Antonio.

Ms Ybarra prepared to give blood for the wounded and pondered how no one noticed trouble with the gunman in time to stop him.

“To me, it is more about raising mental health awareness,” said Ms Ybarra, a wellness coach who attended the elementary school where the shooting happened.

“Someone could possibly have seen a dramatic change before something like this happened.”

Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, Texas, mourned the death of her cousin, Xavier Lopez, who had been eagerly awaiting a summer of swimming.

“He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,” she said. “He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mum. This has just taken a toll on all of us.”

She also lamented what she described as lax gun laws.

“We should have more restrictions, especially if these kids are not in their right state of mind and all they want to do is just hurt people, especially innocent children going to the schools,” Ms Garza said.

Families waiting

On social media, pictures of smiling children were posted, their families begging for information. Classes had been winding down for the year and each school day had a theme.

Tuesday’s was Footloose and Fancy. Pupils were supposed to wear a nice outfit with fun or fancy shoes.

Adolfo Cruz, 69, an air conditioning repairman, remained outside the school on Tuesday night, waiting for word about his great-granddaughter Eliajha Torres, 10, whose whereabouts remained unknown to family.

Mr Cruz drove to the scene after receiving a tearful and terrifying call from his daughter shortly after the first reports that the gunman had opened fire at the school.

While he waited outside the school Tuesday night, his family was at the hospital and civic centre waiting for any potential word on her condition.

Mr Çruz called the waiting the heaviest moment of his life.

“I hope she is alive,” Mr Cruz said. “They are waiting for an update.”

Federico Torres waited for news about his son Rogelio, 10. He told KHOU-TV that he was at work when he learnt about the shooting and rushed to the school.

“They sent us to the hospital, to the civic centre, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,” Mr Torres said. “They don’t tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.”

Torres said he was praying that “my son is found safe … Please if you know anything, let us know.”

Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, which is located across the street from Robb Elementary School, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening that it would be assisting families of the shooting victims with no cost for funerals.