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Vigils were held in Uvalde and other Texas cities for the19 children and two teachers who were killedin the elementary school shooting earlier this week.
On Wednesday evening, locals gathered at the Uvalde County Fairplex to remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy, theTexas Tribunereported.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, SenatorTed CruzandBeto O’Rourke— who is currently running for Abbott’s political position — were among those in attendance, perThe New York Post.
Many leaders within the Uvalde community spoke during the remembrance event, including Pastor Tony Gruben of the Baptist Temple Church, who told mourners, “Our hearts are broken. We are devastated,” according toNBC News.
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Towards the end of the event, a single violinist performed a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” on stage, the Tribune reported.
For more on the shooting massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
Other vigils, NBC News said, were also held throughout Texas in San Antonio and the state’s capital of Austin.
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Uvalde is a small city about 85 miles west of San Antonio. During Tuesday’s shooting, the gunman barricaded himself inside an elementary school classroom, according to officials.
All of the victims — those dead and injured — were found in that room. The children killed were in the second, third and fourth grades, police confirmed.
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The woman managed to make it to the home of a neighbor, who called 911. She is said to be in critical condition at a San Antonio hospital.
It is believed police killed the suspect. A motive for the murders, if known, has not been released. Police also said at a Tuesday press conference that they believe the shooter acted alone.
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A handful of first responders, including a police officer, an EMT and a firefighter, previouslyrecalled the horrific sceneoutside the school to PEOPLE.
“Fathers smashed windows, and physically pulled their kids out of classrooms,” said Ernest “Chip” King, a Uvalde firefighter who was one of the first responders at the scene. “There was a lot of chaos.”
source: people.com
