Until you choose to do something different,
this will continue to happen.
Somebody needs to stand up for the
children of this state or they will
continue to be killed just like they
were killed in uvalda yesterday.
A tragic school shooting has now
become a huge political story in
Texas and the entire country,
Governor Abbott,
and his Democratic challenger for
Governor Beto O'Rourke in a shouting match.
During a news conference in Uvalde today.
And while that is a huge talking
point on social media.
At this hour we certainly cannot
forget the innocent victims
whose lives were ended yesterday.
We will be telling those stories today.
Thanks for being with
us this afternoon for WFA news at
4:00 o'clock. I'm Jason Wheeler.
We want to start with an update
on that mass shooting in Uvalde
that left 22 people dead.
Here's where things stand right now,
at least 21 people,
including 19 children and two teachers,
were shot and killed at Rob
Elementary School yesterday.
There were also 17 people sent to hospitals,
but were told their injuries
are not life threatening.
The shooter has also died.
Law enforcement tells us the 18 year old
was the lone shooter who was eventually
tracked down and shot by police.
We have also just learned that President
Biden will be coming to Texas,
although the specifics of that
visit have not yet been released.
But it is hard to get a real feel
for the emotions that are flowing
through that small town of Uvalde.
And so we sent our Cynthia Eseguire
to southwest Texas to help share
some stories right from the
heart of that community.
So Cynthia,
thanks for being with us here in this hour.
And if you could just sort of set
the mood for us as to what you've
experienced there in Uvalde so far today.
Jason, they're really,
truly are no words, profound grief.
The agony that is being felt
in this community is palpable.
I am standing here outside of the
Civic Center in the city of Uvalde,
where I have seen people arriving
here throughout the day receiving
counseling and several other services.
People are arriving with food.
People are arriving with flowers.
The media is not allowed on the grounds.
They've asked us to stay across the street to
give the people who arrive here their time.
To grieve, to hug each other.
To love on one another,
I can tell you that earlier today we went to
the elementary school where this horrific,
horrific school shooting happened
and I went up to a group of little
boys who were outside,
sitting there talking.
And I sat down with them and it turns
out that one of these little boys,
his cousin Jace, was killed in that
school shooting and they began to cry.
And at that point I let them go back
to their parents and their parents.
Obviously too grief stricken
to speak with us,
but then there's the flip side Jason.
There were many other children
in that school who thank God,
made it out alive, and today I
want to speak with Lupe Leha Lupe.
If you'll join me here, Lupe,
if you want to walk up his son.
His name is Samuel and Lupe.
First of all,
we'll get to what happened
with Samuel in a moment.
But how are you and your family doing?
Well, at this time we're doing a
little bit better, but yesterday
we were all heartbroken and.
About the incident that
happened at my son's school.
What happened with your son?
Where was he when the gunman opened
fire inside of Rob Elementary?
My son, he's at A at another wink.
Another part of the part of the school.
And. You know, praise God there
that gunman didn't make it all
the way out there. And I'm.
I'm heartbroken, but for the people
that are. Had to go through this.
What did your son tell you
happened? What did he hear?
What did he see? If anything
he he hasn't done, told us anything and I
believe he did not know what's going on.
Are you going to speak with him about
what happened? How are you going to
handle this well? When it's
time to do it, or we'll do it.
Did you know anyone who was killed?
Yes, and you did both teachers
and a few of the students.
What can you tell us about them
all they were, I mean,
this is a loving community that we.
Loving people that both teachers and.
The kids as well, the ones we know
I can only imagine the anxiety yesterday
when you heard about what happened here,
can you take us through that?
Well, I was at work in my wife.
I received a call from my wife that there
was a lockdown at the the My son's school.
And at first I was like OK and then the she
was said she told me about some shooting,
a close to the school.
So that's when I had out there.
When I get there you know it was
all chaos out there, you know.
When did you finally get to see your son?
He was about.
In the afternoon about 4:00 or 4:30,
he was transported here to the Civic
Center and my wife picked him up.
So when I got home, I that's when I.
Got to see him.
What was that moment like?
It was like? You know,
I just thank God that he.
He made it back home.
When you found out that he was OK,
can you describe that feeling?
I mean, it was like.
Like a load off my back
because the teacher his teacher
kept on with the messaging.
My wife that they were OK that everybody
was OK on the on that classroom.
I mean we didn't know about the
other what was going on on the
other part of the buildings
today you're expressing
gratitude that your son is alive.
What is what is your message for?
For the families who were
not so lucky. Spell.
I just prayed to God that, you know.
To heal their heart to.
Only time will do it.
As we close, what does this
Community need from everyone?
Well. A lot of prayers for
all the families that were.
Heard by this tragic tragedy and you know,
I just pray that the government
does stricter laws on gun sales and.
To who who they? Sell them too.
Lupe Lehe thank you so much for taking
the time with us this afternoon.
We really appreciate you. Thank you.
God bless you and your family.
Thank you. So Jason,
I can tell you that I spoke with the aunt
of one of the teachers who was killed.
And that was a real painful moment with her.
She is grieving.
She was surrounded by several of the
family members there at the house.
Irma Garcia's mother died
a couple of years ago,
and so this antwi spoke with was like her
mother and she wanted me to tell everyone.
While she's not able to speak yet,
she wanted me to tell anyone that she
has no doubt in her mind that her niece
begged the gunman to spare the children.
She has no doubt that she did that because
that's the kind of woman who she was.
We did speak with several
other members of the community.
We will bring you their stories.
Ahead at 5:00 o'clock, but for now,
reporting live in Uvalde Jason,
I'll send it back to
you. Yeah, is he hard on that whole
community there as as you were just
talking about in that interview?
Everybody there,
even if their own kid was OK.
They know kids and families
who weren't OK in this.
And so the whole community
is grieving together.
And certainly the whole state
grieves with them today.
Izzy will look for more later on.
Thanks for that.