Noelia Morales, grandmother of a child who survived the May 24 mass shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school, described the terror of the attack that claimed 21 lives. An 18-year-old gunman shot his grandmother before targeting Robb Elementary School, where 19 children and two teachers were killed in one of the deadliest U.S. school shootings in a decade.
A Grandmother's Account
Morales recounted her grandchild’s escape from classrooms as the attacker fired over 100 rounds. “They ran, tripped, and hid wherever they could,” she said, describing how students used cellphones to text families while law enforcement hesitated to intervene for over an hour.
Community Demands Change
Uvalde residents joined survivors nationwide to protest lax gun laws, with local advocates urging lawmakers to address mental health gaps and ban assault rifles. The tragedy follows recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Tulsa, reigniting debates about public safety reforms ahead of midterm elections.
National Reckoning
The attack highlights America’s persistent struggle with gun violence – there have been 213 mass shootings in 2024 alone, per Gun Violence Archive data. President Biden called it “a moral failure,” while protesters demand bipartisan legislation to prevent future tragedies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
