UVALDE, Texas – The family of an 11-year-old girl who survived Tuesday’s mass shooting at a southern Texas elementary school said the fourth grader played dead after the gunman entered her classroom.
Miah Cerillo was one of the students injured when an 18-year-old killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, her aunt, Blanca Rivera, of Houston, told KTRK-TV.
Rivera said Cerillo’s teacher, Irma Garcia, was one of two educators killed when Salvador Ramos opened fire, the television station reported.
Rivera said her niece “went into survival mode” when the gunman began shooting.
“Miah got some blood and put it on herself so she could pretend she was dead,” Rivera told KXAS-TV. “It’s too much for me to play that scene over and over again, but that’s what my sister-in-law said is that she saw her friend full of blood and she got blood and put it on herself.”
Rivera told KTRK that she did not know how her niece came up with the idea, but her actions most likely saved her life.
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“She did what she had to (do) to survive,” Rivera told the television station. “(She) pretended to be dead.”
Cerillo was injured but has since been released from an area hospital, KXAS reported.
“My brother said she had bullet fragments in her back,” Rivera told the television station.
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Rivera told KPRC-TV that Cerillo seemed to be handling the tragedy well until she got home on Tuesday night.
“Around midnight, my sister-in-law called me and she was just crying like, ‘I think it just hit Miah. I think everything came to reality. We’re home, and she’s just crying and having a panic attack,’” Rivera told the television station.
Rivera said her family plans to go to Uvalde in the next few weeks to visit their relatives.
”You don’t have to be a parent to feel the pain these parents are going through,” Rivera told KTRK. “It’s unimaginable what they went through, especially the smaller kids. They didn’t have to go through that.”
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, leaves flowers at a memorial site, Thursday, May 26, 2022, for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, visits a memorial site with flowers, Thursday, May 26, 2022, to honor the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, visits a memorial site, Thursday, May 26, 2022, honoring the victims killed in Tuesday’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Children pay their respects at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
A woman reacts as she pays her respects at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Crosses with the names of Tuesday’s shooting victims are placed outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
A child writes a message on a cross at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Children pray and pay their respects at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Prianna Ayala weeps as she is embraced at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Mario Games, right, and his wife, Marisela and daughter Emily, react as they stand in front of a cross with the name of their niece, Nevaeh Bravo, at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Mario Games, right, and his wife, Marisela and daughter Emily, react as they stand in front of a cross with the name of their niece, Nevaeh Bravo, at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
A child writes a message on a cross at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
A child leaves flowers at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
A girl writing a message on a cross is reflected in the water at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
People pay their respects at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
People gather at a memorial site to pay their respects for the victims killed in this week’s elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Esmeralda Bravo, 63, sheds tears while holding a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Two family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School comfort each other during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School embrace each other after a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Stormy Flores, 11, sits with a sign bearing the names of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, far right, prays with a man during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The vigil was held to honor the victims killed in Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School.
A young girl listen to a message during a prayer vigil for the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, and Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco pray during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The vigil was held to honor the victims killed in Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School.
Esmeralda Bravo, center, holds a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, as she is comforted by Nevaeh’s cousin, Anayeli, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Family members and relatives of Nevaeh Bravo, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, attend a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
People listen to a message during a prayer vigil for the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Jailah Nicole Seguero was 11-years-old. She was in the same classroom as her cousin who was also killed. Her mother wrote on Facebook, "I’m so heartbroken my baby I love you so much mamas don’t ever forget that watch over me daddy and your sisters and big bro. Fly high baby girl.”
Ellie Garcia was 10-years-old. Her parents remembered her on Facebook. Her father said he had planned to DJ her birthday party. He said she was the happiest girl ever. Her mother wrote on Facebook, "My heart is shattered to pieces I love you baby girl. I will never stop thinking of you." A video shared on Twitter includes a video of Ellie on her birthday, sending her love to her dad. In the video, Ellie says, "When you get off work, I’ll be here for you. I love you, dad."
Irma Garcia was a teacher at Robb Elementary. It was confirmed through a GoFundMe site set up to raise funds for funeral expenses and family needs. Garcia was a wife and mother to four children. She died shielding students from gunfire.
Uziyah Garcia was 10-years-old. Uziyah was "full of life," according to an uncle, Mitch Renfro. He loved video games and anything with wheels. He leaves behind two sisters. "The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known," his grandmother told KSAT. "I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid."
Jose Flores Jr. was 10-years-old. He was among those killed at Robb Elementary, according to his father, Jose Flores Sr. His father described the fourth grade boy as an amazing kid and big brother to his two siblings. He loved baseball and video games.
The father of one of the children killed in Tuesday’s school shooting has identified his daughter as 10 year-old Amerie Jo Garza.
At least 19 students and 2 adults were killed Tuesday in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, roughly 80 miles west of San Antonio, CNN has reported.
Angel Garza took to Facebook early Wednesday morning to share that his daughter had been killed in the shooting at her elementary school.
A fourth-grade teacher, Eva Mireles, was also killed at the school. Mireles had been an educator for 17 years. In her spare time, she enjoyed running, hiking, biking and being with her family, according to her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s website.
Xavier Lopez was 10-years-old. Just hours before he was killed, Lopez was lauded at Robb Elementary’s honor roll ceremony according to his mother, Felicha Martinez.
