Two Sets Of Cousins Were Killed During The Mass Shooting At Texas Elementary School

On Tuesday 21 people, 19 students and two teachers, were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Among the kids who became victims to Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old who opened fire at the school, were two sets of cousins. For four households, the pain of losing their children has been twofold. 

Cousins Jailah Nicole Sigulero and Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, and Annabell Rodriguez and Jackie Cazares who were all 10 years old were killed in the shootout.

In Jailah's case, her parents were left anguished not only because she was the youngest of four kids and the baby of the family but because the night before she wanted to skip school on the day of the incident. "Jailah didn’t want to go to school yesterday," her grandmother Linda Gonzales told The Daily Beast. "That’s what her momma was really upset about last night: ‘If only I had let her stay home.’" Jacob Silguero, her father shared that asking to skip school was very uncharacteristic of her. But the following morning she seemed to have forgotten about it and went to school as usual.

“I can’t believe this happened to my daughter, my baby,” he told The New York Times. “It’s always been a fear of mine to lose a kid.” He added that Jailah's siblings are unable to cope with their sister's death, "They just want their sister back." Jailah loved to dance and loved TikTok videos. Her cousin Jayce loved to make people laugh and always had a smile on his face. “They were just so sweet,” Gonzales said of her grandchildren. “They were sweet kids and lovable. What can you say about little innocent kids? I don’t have words. We think this is a small community, it can’t happen here, but oh my God, it’s happening anywhere.”

Jackie and Annabelle were also in the same class. Polly Flores, who was Jackie’s aunt and Annabelle’s great-aunt, said of Jackie, "She was outgoing; she always had to be the center of attention. She was my little diva." She had her First Communion two weeks ago. Annabelle was an honor roll student and was more of an introvert and has a twin sister who was homeschooled. Flores also took to Facebook to share a note about the little girls. "Today my two beautiful nieces Jackie and Annabell were taken away from us too soon. Love you, my baby girls. Till we meet again."

Jacinto Cazares, Jackie's father also took to Facebook to express his devastation. "My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I. We're devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through," he stated. "Taken out of arms and lives, in this freaking cowardly way, so young, so innocent, full of life and love. It hurts us to our souls." He added, "May your passing not be in vain. Something will be done, I promise you. Be in peace with the rest of the angels, sweetheart. Daddy, Mom, Sister, Brother, and the whole family are going to miss you forever. Baby girl we all love you with all our hearts. Rest in peace, my Babygirl."

Greg Abbott, the Republican Governor of Texas stated:  "When parents drop their kids off at school, they have every expectation to know that they're going to be able to pick their child up when that school day ends. And there are families who are in mourning right now." This has been the deadliest shooting at a US elementary school since 20 children and six adults died at Sandy Hook school a decade ago. They were two days away from summer break.