Texas school shooting: GoFundMe campaign raises over $2.7M for slain teacher’s family
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
UVALDE, Texas — Financial support aimed at survivors and loved ones of those killed in Tuesday’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School totaled millions by Monday evening.
The small town of Uvalde, Texas, with a population of about 16,000 people, plunged into mourning after 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos opened fire on the elementary school, barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom and killed 19 students and two teachers.
Among the largest pool of donations has been to the family of Joe and Irma Garcia, with nearly 50,000 donors contributing more than $2.7 million by Monday night.
Irma Garcia was one of two teachers killed in Tuesday’s shooting, and her husband, Joe, died of a heart attack two days later. The couple, who shared four children, had been married for more than two decades.
According to the GoFundMe page established by Irma Garcia’s cousin, Debra Austin, the donations will benefit the couple’s children, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
According to the newspaper, at least 21 other verified GoFundMe pages are currently circulating online, and the crowdfunding platform is working to ensure scammers do not exploit tragedy.
The top donation, more than $500,000, was imported from a separate GoFundMe created by John Martinez, the Garcias’ nephew, The Washington Post reported.
Meanwhile, the page has also received several other high-dollar donations and was promoted on social media by Bill Pulte, a philanthropist and CEO of the investment firm Pulte Capital, according to the newspaper.
Teammates of Twitter Philanthropy Help Raise $1.9 Million (now $2.125 Million) in 72 hours for Family of Slain Texas Teacher
Separately, fundraising pages have been established for Eva Mireles, the second of two teachers killed Tuesday, as well as for the following students: Amerie Jo Garza, Alithia Ramirez, Tess Mata, Nevaeh Bravo, Xavier Lopez, Jayce Luevanos, Eliahna Torres, Maite Rodríguez, Jailah Silguero, Makenna Lee Elrod, Alexandria Rubio, Rojelio Torres, Layla Salazar and Eliahna Garcia, the Statesman reported.
“(Mireles) put her own fears aside to protect her students that day,” her sister wrote. “She was a gift God let us borrow. Our family is torn, we want her back. Nothing will ever fill this void.”
According to the Statesman, a few pages are also raising funds to help offset medical, physical and counseling needs for surviving victims, including students Kendall Olivarez, Miah Cerrillo and Noah Orona, as well as fourth-grade teacher Arnulfo Reyes, who was severely injured while protecting his students.
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Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting People gather at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to pay their respects to the victims killed in last week's school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Gemma Hernandez, a high school teacher from San Antonio prays outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, center, prays with pastor Gabriel Davila and wife, Sylvia, outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman in last week's school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Dan Beazley, right, with his son Joey Beazley, from Detroit, carry their wooden cross as they pray at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. Multiple people were killed by an 18-year-old gunman at the school last week. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting A heart shaped balloon flies decorating a memorial site outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. 19 children and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman at the school last week. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting People visit a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Brian Hackett, 39, visits a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to pay his respects to the victims killed in last week's school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Flowers, stuffed animals and candles are piled around a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to honor the victims killed in last week's school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Cat Perez, 39, lays flowers at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to honor the victims killed in last week's school shooting. Photographs of the victims, from left, show Layla Salazar, McKenna Lee Elrod, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos and Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Dorina Davila, left, from San Antonio, places flowers at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting A woman kneels at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to pay her respects to the victims killed in last week's school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting A school building stands behind a tree with an American flag and crime scene tape at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting People visit a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Respects paid to victims of Robb Elementary School shooting Salvatore Di Grazia, a teacher visiting from Rio Grande Valley, Texas, prays at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, for the victims killed in last week's school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
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Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, fourth from left, prays for her cousin Eliahana Torres and other victims, at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A woman walks toward Robb Elementary School to lay flowers for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a stand with an image depicting Jesus outside Robb Elementary School to place it around a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jessica Morales, whose cousin, Ellie Garcia, was killed in this week's elementary school shooting, writes encouraging words on her SUV in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. "You don't expect things like this to happen," said Morales. "It left a big hole in my heart." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper is handed flowers and stuffed animals outside Robb Elementary School to be placed at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Members of the Mennonite community of Uvalde sing hymns to offer comfort to people visiting a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Messages written in chalk decorate the footpaths at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A family prays at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A group of bikers pray outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Pastor Humberto Jnr, center, wearing a t-shirt that says "In Uvalde As In Heaven," leads a prayer circle at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A "Uvalde Strong" sign is posted on an electric pole in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. Nineteen children were looking forward to a summer filled with Girl Scouts and soccer and video games. Two teachers were closing out a school year that they started with joy and that had held such promise. They're the 21 people who were killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jarrod Tomassi, 45, holds an American flag outside Robb Elementary School while praying for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People carry flowers as they walk toward a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in the school shooting earlier in the week in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A man kisses the cross of Layla Salazar at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a sign handed to him to be place at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Bikers wear T-shirts that say "United with Uvalde" to honor victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Flowers and candles are placed around crosses at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A large teddy bear is placed at a memorial in front of crosses bearing the names of the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A law enforcement personnel stands next to a large teddy bear at a memorial honoring the victims in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People pay their respects at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People visit a memorial set up in a town square to honor the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper places a tiara on a cross honoring Ellie Garcia, one of the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
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