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Texas cops have revealed that there was no armed guard on campus when the gunman arrived on Tuesday which allowed him to walk ‘unobstructed’ through an unlocked door and into the building where he slaughtered 21 people. 

At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Victor Escalon, the Regional Director for the Department of Public Safety South Texas, said Salvador Ramos walked through an unlocked door ‘unobstructed’ and that there was no guard ‘readily available’. 

It contradicts earlier reports that he fired at a school resource officer. 

Ramos entered the school at 11.40am, 12 minutes after crashing his truck outside the school and walking towards campus with his AR-15. That is when police were alerted to the scene. 

At 11.44am, the first cops entered the school. Ramos shot at them and they retreated. 

It’s unclear if he had already shot the kids and teachers in the fourth grade classroom by then, or if he went on to attack them after those cops retreated. 

It then took an hour for specialized SWAT teams to arrive. At 1.06pm, the incident was declared over after Ramos was shot dead. 

In the meantime, 150 cops were gathering outside. Some of them were filmed pinning parents to the floor and some were even placed in handcuffs, according to witnesses. 

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Texas Department of Public Safety South Regional Director Victor Escalon gives an update into the investigation following a mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, USA, 26 May 2022

Texas Department of Public Safety South Regional Director Victor Escalon gives an update into the investigation following a mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, USA, 26 May 2022 

New information reveals the shooter was not confronted by a school resource officer as he walked through the doors of the school. At 11.44, he shot at cops who had made their way inside. They retreated and he was left in the classroom with the victims. It took another hour for SWAT to arrive and kill him, during which time the injured kids inside had been languishing waiting for help

 New information reveals the shooter was not confronted by a school resource officer as he walked through the doors of the school. At 11.44, he shot at cops who had made their way inside. They retreated and he was left in the classroom with the victims. It took another hour for SWAT to arrive and kill him, during which time the injured kids inside had been languishing waiting for help

‘He walked in unobstructed initially. He was not confronted by anybody. Four minutes later, law enforcement are coming in to solve this problem,’ Escalon said. 

When the first cops entered the building, he fired at them, injuring at least two of them. The cops then retreated, leaving him to carry on with his killing. 

‘They hear gunfire, they take rounds, get back and take cover… they don’t make entry initially because of the gunfire they are receiving. They are calling for additional resources, tactical teams, we needed body armor, precision rifles, negotiators. 

‘They are also evacuating students. There’s a lot going on,’ he said.

It’s unclear if there was meant to be a resource officer at the school that day. There are four in the district and there are nine schools, including four elementary schools, a junior high and a high school.   

On Thursday, Escalon claimed that most of the shooting occurred early in the standoff and that the only shots fired once cops were there were to keep them at bay. 

Now, there are questions over why it took so long to catch the gunman and whether or not any of the kids could have been saved.

‘There are a lot of possibilities, there was numerous officers at that classroom. Once we interview all those officers and find out what they were thinking, we’ll have a better idea,’ he said. 

Javier Cazares, whose nine-year-old daughter was murdered, says cops were ‘just standing there’ and waiting for protective shields to arrive at the scene before they went in. 

‘They said they rushed in and all that, we didn’t see that,’ he told The New York Times, adding that many were ‘just standing there.’ 

Video shows Texas cops holding down a parent outside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday while a shooting unfolded inside. It took police an hour to get inside the building and bring down the shooter

Video shows Texas cops holding down a parent outside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday while a shooting unfolded inside. It took police an hour to get inside the building and bring down the shooter

Cops hold down a parent outside the school, while others wait in anguish for news of if their kids were murdered

Cops hold down a parent outside the school, while others wait in anguish for news of if their kids were murdered

Cops hold down a parent outside the school, left, while others wait in anguish for news of if their kids were murdered, right

A woman is seen on Tuesday being turned back by law enforcement officers outside the school in Uvalde, Texas. Some were heard screaming at the police to get inside the building. It was unclear when the footage was taken, and if the crime scene was still active

A woman is seen on Tuesday being turned back by law enforcement officers outside the school in Uvalde, Texas. Some were heard screaming at the police to get inside the building. It was unclear when the footage was taken, and if the crime scene was still active

Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was killed in the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, is pictured on Wednesday outside the school

Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was killed in the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, is pictured on Wednesday outside the school

‘There were plenty of men out there armed to the teeth that could have gone in faster. This could have been over in a couple minutes,’ he said. 

He added that police were faster to escort Beto O’Rourke out of the press conference yesterday when he started heckling the governor than they were to get into the school. 

Angel Garza, whose daughter was killed, was handcuffed after trying to run into the school when he heard that a ‘girl called Amerie’ had been shot. He later found out that she was among those who died while giving medical aid to other children who escaped. 

Derek Sotelo, 26, who works in a tire shop nearby, said parents were begging to be let into the school.  

‘They were just angry, especially the dads. We were wondering, “What the heck is going on? Are they going in?” ‘The dads were saying, “Give me the vest, I’ll go in there!’ 

Frustrated parents were standing outside the school begging cops to go inside when the shooting was unfolding. 

Javier Cazares, whose nine-year-old daughter was murdered, says cops were ‘just standing there’ and waiting for protective shields to arrive at the scene before they went in. 

‘They said they rushed in and all that, we didn’t see that,’ he told The New York Times, adding that many were ‘just standing there.’ 

‘There were plenty of men out there armed to the teeth that could have gone in faster. This could have been over in a couple minutes,’ he said. 

He added that police were faster to escort Beto O’Rourke out of the press conference yesterday when he started heckling the governor than they were to get into the school. 

Angel Garza, whose daughter was killed, was handcuffed after trying to run into the school when he heard that a ‘girl called Amerie’ had been shot. He later found out that she was among those who died while giving medical aid to other children who escaped. 

Derek Sotelo, 26, who works in a tire shop nearby, said parents were begging to be let into the school.  

‘They were just angry, especially the dads. We were wondering, “What the heck is going on? Are they going in?” ‘The dads were saying, “Give me the vest, I’ll go in there!’ 

One child told KENS 5 that he was able to hide under a desk, but that a girl who yelled out ‘help’ when police arrived was executed. 

‘When the cops came, the cop said: “Yell if you need help!” And one of the persons in my class said ‘help.’ The guy overheard and he came in and shot her. The cop barged into that classroom. The guy shot at the cop. And the cops started shooting,’ the boy said. 

One shocking video shows them even holding some parents back as they tried to get inside. 

The footage shows a parent being pinned to the ground by an officer, while another carrying a taser stands guard nearby. 

Other footages shows parents begging the cops: ‘What are you doing!? Get inside the building!’  

Another woman could be heard to say ‘They’re trapped inside’ as howls of pained anguish rang out in the background. 

It was unclear at what time the footage was shot. It also emerged Wednesday that Customs and Border Patrol agents who rushed to the scene had to grab a key from school staff to open the door of the classroom where the bloodbath took place.

That is because they were unable to break the door down themselves.  

The first 911 call was received at 11:32am on Tuesday, and the gunman was killed at 1pm – after a Border Patrol agent was given a key to the door, behind which the gunman was barricaded with the fourth grade class. 

Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside the building.

Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders.

‘Let’s just rush in because the cops aren’t doing anything like they are supposed to,’ he said. 

‘More could have been done. They were unprepared.’

PICTURED: The 19 children and two teachers butchered by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos in Texas

 

Amerie Jo Garza, 10

Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom.

Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-old was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up ‘covered in her blood.’

Uziyah Garcia, 8

Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim at age eight, was also killed in the attack.

The child’s family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy.

The boy’s grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities.

‘[He was] the sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,’ Renfro said. ‘I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.’

Makenna Elrod, 10

Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared ‘she may not be alive.’

Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. ‘It’s pretty sad what this world’s coming to,’ the girl’s father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting.

A mother of one of Makenna’s friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 

‘Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!’ the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims.

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Xavier Lopez, 10

 

Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos’ victims.

The child’s mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. 

She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate.

In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye – not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive.

‘He was funny, never serious and his smile… that smile I will never forget,’ she recalled after learning of his death from police. ‘It would always cheer anyone up.’

Eliahana Torres, 10

Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead.

Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn’t want to attend school the day of the shooting – but was told by her family that she had to attend.

He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities.

‘I hope she is alive,’ he said at the time. 

Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. 

Ellie Lugo, 10

Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday’s attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 

‘It’s hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour… but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn’t make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,’ Steven Lugo said Wednesday.

‘Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.’  

Nevaeh Bravo

Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. 

Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter.

‘Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,’ she wrote.

She said the schoolchild was ‘flying high’ and asked for the family to be kept in people’s prayers  

‘Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.’

‘Thank you for the support and help,’ she wrote. ‘Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn’t deserve this.’

Bravo’s age could not immediately be confirmed.  

Tess Marie Mata

Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday.

‘I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,’ she wrote.

‘I’m sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I’m confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I’m angry because a coward took you from us.’

Rojelio Torres, 10

Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family.

A person who said she was the boy’s cousin wrote on Twitter: ‘It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I’ll forever miss you and love you my angel.’

The child’s father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school.

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

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10

Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child’s mother said Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute.

‘My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,’ Gonzalez wrote. ‘We luv y’all so much!!! I’m just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!’

Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10

 

Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday.

She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy.

She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok.

The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school – a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 

‘I took her to school, but she didn’t want to go. She told her father, ‘Can I stay home?” Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 

‘I think she knew something would happen.’

Alithia Ramirez, 10

 Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel’s wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre

He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre.

‘Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,’ he wrote at the time.

He also reporters during his frantic search, ‘I’m trying to find out where my baby’s at.’ 

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday – along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified.

Annabell’s father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. 

Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search.

‘They’re not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don’t know where to go.’

 She has since been declared to be among the dead.

Miranda Mathis, 11

Miranda Mathis, 11,  was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child.

‘My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,’ Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings.

‘I’m so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,’ she grieved.

Miller’s kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack.

One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after ‘he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.’

Alexandria ‘Lexi’ Aniyah Rubio, 10

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio – who was better known to friends as ‘Lexi’ – was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday.

The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school’s honor roll ceremony.

Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl’s mother, wrote of the loss: ‘My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.’ 

Maite Yuleana

Maite Yuleana was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before.

A cousin of the girl’s mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 

‘It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday’s senseless shooting.  

‘We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl…. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.’

Jose Flores Jr, 10

Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment.

Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook.

‘I love you and I miss you,’ Salazar wrote in the post.  

The boy’s father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings.

‘He was always fill of energy,’ Jose Flores Sr. said. ‘Ready to play till the night.’

He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games.

Jackie Cazares, 10

Jackie Cazares, 10, was another to be killed during the vicious attack at the elementary school.

Her father Jacinto confirmed she lost her life inside her fourth-grade classroom.

‘My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I,’ the grieving father said in an online post.

‘We’re devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. … It hurts us to our souls.’

Cazares said his daughter, who was with her cousin, Annabell Rodriguez, when she died, was ‘full of life and love’.

Layla Salazar, 10

 

The 10-year-old student was the last of the slaying victims to be identified.

Vincent Salazar told the Philadelphia Inquirer his young daughter was among those killed.

He said she was ‘a lot of fun’ and recalled how they sang along to ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns ‘n’ Roses whenever he drove her to school.   

Irma Garcia, 46 – fourth grade teacher

 

Irma Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. 

Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four – Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 

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‘My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y’all’s prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,’ tweeted her nephew John. 

‘She was loved by many and will truly be missed.’

She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. 

Eva Mireles, 44 – fourth grade teacher

Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. 

Her husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools – most recently at the end of March. 

He added: ‘There was at least 40 lawmen armed to the teeth but didn’t do a darn thing until it was far too late.

‘The situation could’ve been over quick if they had better tactical training, and we as a community witnessed it firsthand.’ 

One woman was yelling at the police outside the school, said Juan Carranza, 24, who lives opposite. 

He said she was screaming: ‘Go in there! Go in there!’

Carranza said the officers did not go in.

Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw told reporters that 40 minutes to an hour elapsed from when Salvador Ramos, 18, opened fire on the school security officer to when the tactical team shot him, though a department spokesman said later that they could not give a solid estimate of how long the gunman was in the school or when he was killed.

‘The bottom line is law enforcement was there,’ McCraw said. 

‘They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom.’

Meanwhile, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told AP the Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key.

Cazares said he wanted answers from local authorities as to why the shooter was not stopped before or during the attack.

‘I’m a gun owner and I do not blame the weapons used in this tragedy,’ he said.

‘I’m angry how easy it is to get one and young you can be to purchase one.’  

The massacre is the worst school shooting in the United States since Sandy Hook in 2012, when 20 children and six teachers were killed.

Ramos on Tuesday first shot his 66-year-old grandmother Cecilia Gonzalez in the face, leaving her severely injured, before stealing her pickup truck and driving towards the school.

Unable to drive, he crashed into a ditch and then ran to the school on foot, where he was met by an armed security guard.

Yet he was still able to enter the school and kill 21 people – and was not stopped until around 1pm, when a Border Patrol agent backed up by a tactical team shot him dead.  

One of those involved in training schools how to deal with an active shooter lost his wife in Tuesday’s tragedy.

Ruben Ruiz, 43, a veteran detective and SWAT team member, works as a police officer for the school district, and on March 22 held an active shooter drill at the school.

His wife Eva Mireles, 44, was one of the two teachers killed by Ramos on Tuesday.  

Uvalde, home to 16,000 people, is 80 miles west of San Antonio.

Steve McCraw, director of the Texas department of public safety (DPS), said on Wednesday that a ‘brave’ school resource officer ‘approached him’ and ‘engaged him’ – but added that ‘gunfire was not exchanged.’ He did not explain why.

The New York Times reported that their sources said at least one armed law enforcement officer from the Uvalde school district was at the school, and that officer exchanged gunfire with the gunman, but the gunman was able to get past.

Ramos was carrying an AR-type rifle, which he had bought the week before, on turning 18.

He purchased one of the rifles on May 17, and the following day he bought 375 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. Ramos purchased another rifle on May 20, and posted pictures of the guns on Instagram.

He was also wearing ‘a tactical vest carrier with no ballistic panels,’ said Lt. Chris Olivarez, the DPS’s spokesperson.

Ramos then made it into the school, running down a hallway to two adjoining classrooms.

He barricaded himself inside the fourth grade classroom run by teachers Irma Garcia, 46, and Mireles.

‘And that’s where the carnage began,’ McCraw said.

All of the 19 children who died were inside the one classroom.

Officers were unable to enter it, The New York Times said.

Olivarez said some of the officers were shot by the gunman, so others began breaking windows around the school trying to evacuate children and teachers.

Ramos remained there until a tactical unit from the Border Patrol killed the gunman, shortly after 1pm, according to state police reports.

Olivarez said ‘tactical law enforcement’ forced their way into the classroom, where ‘they were met with gunfire as well, but they were able to shoot and kill that suspect.’

The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States.

The BORTAC agent, whose identity has not yet been revealed, rushed into the school without waiting for backup.

Ramos was behind a barricade, returning fire, but the border patrol agent managed to shoot and kill the gunman before he could claim more victims.

‘They came in from opposite sides. The BORTAC agent ended up exchanging gunfire with the shooter, killed the shooter, and I am told that the agent was injured in his leg,’ Olivarez told Fox News .

‘They are trying to figure out if he was shot in the leg or hit by shrapnel.’

BORTAC is headquartered in El Paso, Texas, and the U.S.-Mexico border is only 80 miles away – explaining the presence of the agent from the unusual tactical unit.

The unit is unique in that it conducts training and operations both in the United States and in other countries ‘in furtherance of the US Border Patrol’s mission’, according to CBP.

Multiple teams of Border Patrol agents raced to the school, according to Jason Owens, a top regional official with the Border Patrol.

A number of the shooting victims are children of Customs and Border Protection agents.

‘It hit home for everybody,’ said Owens.

McCraw praised the officers and denied there had been a failure – emphasizing that the arriving officers ‘engaged him’ and were able to ‘keep him pinned down in that location.’

Asked about the delay, he replied: ‘Obviously, this is situation we failed in the sense that we didn’t prevent this mass attack.

‘But I can tell you those officers that arrived on the scene and put their lives in danger — they saved other kids.

‘They kept him pinned down.’

He said the team was ‘very proud’ of that.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, also heaped praise on the law enforcement officials.

‘The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do,’ Abbott said on Wednesday.

‘They showed amazing courage by running toward gunfire for the singular purpose of trying to save lives.

‘They were able to save lives. Unfortunately, not enough.’

Meanwhile, a depressingly familiar picture was emerging of the gunman, who was described by friends, colleagues and relatives as a troubled loner with anger issues.

His mother, Adriana Reyes, 39, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday her son ‘wasn’t a violent person’.

Reyes said she was ‘surprised’ he opened fire, but admitted her son was someone who ‘kept to himself and didn’t have many friends’.

She denied that they had a poor relationship, but would not address claims she was a drug addict, whose son ditched her to live with his grandmother.

‘My son wasn’t a violent person. I’m surprised by what he did,’ she told DailyMail.com – speaking from her mother’s bedside in San Antonio.

She said her mother ‘with her left hand, was able to hold my hand,’ adding that she cannot smile but knows she is there.

She said doctors do not know what her mother’s prognosis is.

‘I pray for those families. I’m praying for all of those innocent children, yes I am. They [the children] had no part in this.’

She continued: ‘I had a good relationship with him. He kept to himself; he didn’t have many friends.’

She said the last time she spoke with him was last Monday, on his birthday, adding: ‘I had a card and a Snoopy stuffed animal to give to him.’

Ramos is the son of Reyes and Salvador Ramos, 42 – both of whom have a criminal history, DailyMail.com can confirm.

Salvador Sr. has a criminal history going back to 2000, when a Texas Court report shows he was sentenced to 180 days in jail for an unspecified misdemeanor, and was ordered to pay $875 at Uvalde County Court.

He then committed another misdemeanor just one month later and was ordered to pay another $375.

Two years later, on July 29, 2002 he was again arrested – this time for an assault that causes bodily injury against a family member, according to public records.

He was again sent to prison for 180 days.

In 2005, he faced another misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in prison, and by April 2011, Ramos again faced charges – this time for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of marijuana, and faced a maximum of two years in prison.

It is unclear what Salvador Sr’s relationship was with his son, though he lived nearby.

Salvador’s mother, meanwhile, was arrested in June 2003 for property theft of less than $500. It is unclear how long she served for that offense.

She was also arrested on misdemeanor charges in 2005 – though it is unclear what precipitated that arrest.

Neighbors said the younger Salvador Ramos’ relationship with his mother was strained.

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Ramos’ neighbor Ruben Flores, 41, said the shooter and his mother would often have screaming matches, with police being called to the home on multiple occasions.

In since deleted Instagram videos, Ramos had allegedly filmed his mother interacting with police.

Classmate Nadia Reyes claimed: ‘He’d call his mom a b***h and say she wanted to kick him out… He’d be screaming and talking to his mom really aggressively.’

Flores, meanwhile, told the Washington Post how he had tried to be a father figure to Ramos but that the situation at home only worsened as he got older.

Jeremiah Munoz, an alumnus from the local high school who used to play Xbox games with Ramos, also told the New York Times he would often hear him arguing with his mother through the microphone – and his mother would scream back at him, telling him he needed to go to school and he was doing nothing with his life.

Munoz said Ramos would often leave his mother’s house and stay with his grandmother for several days after a big fight – and over the past year he has been spending more and more time with his grandmother.

Ramos’s mother’s boyfriend, Manuel Alvarez, told DailyMail.com he still often stayed in his room on Hood Street, where he would repeatedly hit a punching bag by himself.

Speaking from the front porch of the three-bedroom house at the end of the dirt road, he said: ‘Salvador was a loner.’

He added: ‘He didn’t have many friends. Occasionally a ‘friend’ came over,’ he continued, but noted the last time he saw he saw a friend over at the house was about six months ago.

Alvarez, 62, told DailyMail.com that he is shocked by Ramos’s actions.

‘I never expected him to do what he did. He’s quiet and kept to himself most of the time. I really only had a handful of conversations with him,’ Alvarez said.

‘He stayed to himself; I really didn’t have a relationship with him. He didn’t talk much, he was a loner.’

He said his bedroom was unassuming, containing only a punch bag he liked hitting, a TV and a bed.

Alvarez told the DailyMail.com that Ramos wasn’t allowed to let anyone in the house, and noted that about two months ago Ramos and his mother got into an argument over the wi-fi issue.

‘I’m not exactly sure what it was about, I stay out of it,’ Alvarez said.

Following the argument, Alvarez said, Ramos packed his belongings and moved in with his grandmother, Celia Gonzalez, a few miles away.

The last time Alvarez said he saw Ramos was a week ago when he stopped by their house to pick up some pizza.

‘He was on good terms with his mother as far as I know,’ he said.

Gonzalez was reportedly in the process of evicting the mother over her drug use in the days before Tuesday’s killing spree.

On the morning of the shooting, one neighbor told local news channel Newsy that he witnessed Ramos arguing with his grandmother, claiming he was ‘angry that he did not graduate’.

His former colleagues at Uvalde High School – which he had dropped out of – graduated on Monday.

Other reports said Ramos and Gonzalez were fighting about a cellphone bill, although it was described as a ‘minor argument’.

His grandfather, Ronaldo Reyes, 72, said that the teenager lived in a front room and slept on a mattress on the floor.

Reyes told ABC News he had no idea his grandson purchased two AR-15s nor that he kept them in the house.

Under a new Texas law passed in September, those aged 18-21 could buy guns if they had a protective order, because they were at risk of family violence, stalking, prostitution or sex trafficking.

The law also removed the requirement for a permit for a handgun. Rifles were already permitted in Texas without licenses.

Reyes, a convicted felon, is not allowed to have guns inside his home, he said, and if he knew Ramos was keeping weapons there he said he would have turned in his grandson.

‘I hate when I see the news, all those people that get shot, I’m against all that,’ Reyes said.

‘I say, ‘Why do they let these people buy guns and all that? Those stupid – whatever they shoot.”

Reyes said he did not think his grandson was dangerous, noting that he had tried to encourage his grandson to attend school, but he would just shrug in response.

‘These kids these days think they know everything,’ he said.

At school, Ramos was a bullied loner, picked on because of a lisp, a habit of wearing eyeliner, his clothes and because he came from a poor family.

Santos Valdez told the Washington Post that he used to be friends with Ramos and played online shooter games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty with him, until the pair stopped talking as Ramos’s behavior ‘deteriorated.’

Valdez said Ramos had showed up to the park one time with cuts all over his face, initially claiming he was scratched by a cat before admitting that he did it to himself with a knife.

Stephen Garcia, who considered himself Ramos’s best friend in eighth grade, said he was ‘bullied by a lot of people’ including for over a photo of himself wearing eyeliner which led to ‘gay’ taunts.

Garcia said Ramos dropped out of school when he moved away to another part of the state, and the two had lost touch.

Others confirmed that Ramos had stopped attending classes, and did not intend to take part in graduation this summer.

Instead, he got a job at a local Wendy’s restaurant.

A colleague there described Ramos has having an aggressive streak.

She told the Daily Beast he walked around with a pair of boxing gloves at the park, asking people to fight him and filming it.

He also menaced co-workers, asking one of the cooks: ‘Do you know who I am?’

‘He would be very rude towards the girls sometimes… and he would also send inappropriate texts to the ladies,’ the former colleague said, asking for her name not to be used.

Jocelyn Rodriguez, 19, a Wendy’s employee, told The New York Times that when she heard Ramos was the shooter, she was initially shocked, but then less surprised.

She knew him to have a bad temper and to snap at people.

He said he had a tendency to pick fights with co-workers, and would often talk about how much he hated his mother and grandmother, whom he told her did not let him smoke weed or do what he wanted.

Earlier this month, he started picking fights with co-workers again and bragging about quitting his job, saying he no longer needed the money.

He told her and others that he was going to ‘act out’ in a big way and they would all hear about it, she said.

‘He wanted to cause trouble,’ she said. ‘He wanted to cause destruction.’

The shooter’s mother however claimed he was ‘not violent’. 

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com she did not address claims she was a drug addict who saw the boy ditch her and go to live with his grandmother Celia Gonzalez.

Reyes was speaking from the bedside of Gonzalez, 66, as she recovers from being blasted in the face by her vile grandson before he went on a rampage and shot dead 19 children and two teachers.

He had bought two AR-15 assault rifles, bragged about them on social media and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the deadly attack.

But earlier today Ramos’ grandfather revealed the family had no idea he legally purchased the two weapons last week.

Rolando Reyes, 74, Gonzalez’s husband, also claimed his grandson had been a quiet teenager who spent most of his time alone in his room.

Veering wildly off the road, Ramos crashed a Ford F-150 pickup truck into a culvert behind the elementary school

Veering wildly off the road, Ramos crashed a Ford F-150 pickup truck into a culvert behind the elementary school

Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch before entering the school. Cops found one of his AR-15 guns inside the vehicle, and he had also dumped a bag (circled) nearby. At the entrance of the school, they found his backpack which contained ammunition

Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch before entering the school. Cops found one of his AR-15 guns inside the vehicle, and he had also dumped a bag (circled) nearby. At the entrance of the school, they found his backpack which contained ammunition 

One video at the scene appears to show Ramos approach the school while what sounds like gunfire is going off in the background. Police exchanged gunfire with Ramos but were unable to stop him from storming the school

One video at the scene appears to show Ramos approach the school while what sounds like gunfire is going off in the background. Police exchanged gunfire with Ramos but were unable to stop him from storming the school

Ramos grew up in Hood Street before moving to his grandmother’s house some months ago, neighbors claimed

Ramos' last known address, his grandmother's residence, is seen taped off by police as they carry out searches

Ramos’ last known address, his grandmother’s residence, is seen taped off by police as they carry out searches 

Ramos grew up on Hood Street (pictured), in a no-frills working class neighborhood, where homes are dotted along avenues more akin to dirt tracks, and where more than a third live at or barely above the federal poverty line.

Ramos grew up on Hood Street (pictured), in a no-frills working class neighborhood, where homes are dotted along avenues more akin to dirt tracks, and where more than a third live at or barely above the federal poverty line.

Ramos was shot dead after his shooting spree left 19 children and two teachers dead as well as his grandmother Celia Gonzalez (pictured) fighting for her life after he blasted her in the face

Ramos was shot dead after his shooting spree left 19 children and two teachers dead as well as his grandmother Celia Gonzalez (pictured) fighting for her life after he blasted her in the face

Ramos was shot dead after his shooting spree left 19 children and two teachers dead as well as his grandmother Celia Gonzalez (pictured) fighting for her life after he shot her in the face

Manuel Alvarez, 62, the boyfriend of Salvador's mother, Adriana, spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com

Manuel Alvarez, 62, the boyfriend of Salvador’s mother, Adriana, spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com

The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States

The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States

In this aerial view, law enforcement works on scene at Robb Elementary School where 21 people were killed

In this aerial view, law enforcement works on scene at Robb Elementary School where 21 people were killed

The agent who ended Tuesday's school massacre by shooting and killing the Robb Elementary school gunman is reported to be part of an 'elite' CBP tactical unit. Law enforcement personnel are pictured at the scene of the shooting

The agent who ended Tuesday’s school massacre by shooting and killing the Robb Elementary school gunman is reported to be part of an ‘elite’ CBP tactical unit. Law enforcement personnel are pictured at the scene of the shooting

The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States

The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States

Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed by law enforcement

Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed by law enforcement

He had recently gotten a job at the local Wendy's (pictured), where co-workers say he sent inappropriate text messages to his female colleagues

He had recently gotten a job at the local Wendy’s (pictured), where co-workers say he sent inappropriate text messages to his female colleagues

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