Funerals for children killed in mass shooting continue in grieving Uvalde as police, bikers block press

An innocent cheerleader, a silly and loving softball player and a smart and shy tom boy with a love for the outdoors were laid to rest Thursday as part of Uvalde’s prolonged period of mourning over the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary. The three fourth-graders were among the 19 children killed along with their teachers, Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles, when an 18-year-old gunman burst into their classroom after firing shots outside the building and entering through an unlocked door. Thursday’s grief was private, the ceremonies quiet and heavily guarded by police. A somber mood had seeped into every facet of the small south Texas community. MOURNING THE VICTIMS: In Uvalde, a town florist prepares for daunting task of remembering the shooting victims “Every child I see in HEB, I want to hug,” said Francisca Baron, a longtime resident of Uvalde who lived down the street from the bustling funeral home, Rushing-Estes Knowles Mortuary. “It’s so bad.” Around 11 a.m., a crowd of about 100 mourners gathered at Rushing-Estes to remember Eliahna Torres, the softball player, described in her obituary as a Tik Tok-loving 10-year-old with a beautiful smile and a knack for making people laugh. Later in the day, at the same funeral home, families reflected on the life of Maranda Mathis, the shy tomboy whose imagination shined through her love of unicorns and mermaids. And then there was Nevaeh Bravo, the cheerleader whose funeral was held at Sacred Heart Memorial Church. She had just turned 10 in January. Her name was “heaven” spelled backwards, a cousin said on Facebook. She could “put a smile on everyone’s face,” the cousin said, according to the Washington Post. Less than a mile away, people who had traveled from around Texas and other states dropped roses and teddy bears around a growing memorial that surrounded a large fountain in the center of town. Some people were simply there to lend a hand, like UPS supervisor Anthony Piper, who had been handing out water and filling in for local UPS workers who needed to attend funerals and grieve. Another man, Tony Dickey, a chaplain who helps families deal with loss after a disaster, had just returned from Buffalo, N.Y., where a gunman killed 10 people days before the Uvalde massacre. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: Texas police union calls for Uvalde authorities to cooperate with mass shooting inquiries “In Buffalo, you have a group of elderly citizens killed, and here you have a group of innocent children getting killed — both innocence,” he said. “And it’s a national tragedy.” Journalists were not allowed access to the funeral ceremonies. Many locals declined to speak to the press after a days-long barrage of media attention. Emotions were still fresh. Fire trucks and a fleet of police officers from Uvalde and cities across Texas, including Allen, Pearland, Conroe and Lubbock, created blockades and threatened to arrest reporters for stepping near the property. They were assisted by dozens of bikers who were members of at least three clubs — Guardians of the Children, Thin Blue Line LEMC and Marines MC. The bikers physically obstructed cameras within designated media areas, followed reporters and harassed them as they walked closer toward the ceremonies. One member of Guardians of the Children, who declined to give her name, said the group was “working with the police.” Outside the funeral for Torres, another unidentified biker club member said, “We just want to give the families a safe and peaceful space.” julian.gill@chron.com - Morning of chaos: A reconstruction of how the tragedy unfolded at Uvalde - Remembering the lives lost in the Uvalde school shooting - Funerals for children killed in mass shooting continue in grieving Uvalde as police, bikers block press - Texas politicians shared horror and grief over Uvalde. Here's how much money they took from the NRA. - A shattered Texas town: Heartbreaking photos from the growing Uvalde memorials - Why was the head of a six-person force for Uvalde CISD in charge of the mass shooting response? - As Uvalde gunman was inside the school, parents screamed outside. Here's what we know about those 40 minutes. - Tomlinson: Like many others, I'm afraid of my fellow Americans with guns — so I bought my own

Funerals for children killed in mass shooting continue in grieving Uvalde as police, bikers block press

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