Fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School, Amerie Jo Garza, was shot dead when she called 911, says grandmother

On Tuesday morning, Texas fourth grader Amerie Jo Garza, 10, beamed for a photo as she held up a colorful school certificate inducting her into the roll of honor at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

Taken around 10 a.m., it was the last living picture of her, her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, told The Daily Beast in an emotional interview, in which she said the girl was “super outgoing” and a “teacher favourite” who likes to do well in school – was mortally wounded and dialed 911.

“My granddaughter was shot for trying to call 911, she died a hero trying to get help for her and her classmates,” Arreola wrote in a text message to The Daily Beast.

The 18-year-old gunman went to school with multiple guns and fatally shot 19 children and two teachers. As news of the shooting and its toll spread, Amerie Jo’s family members spent an agonizing day trying to find out about their missing daughter. Before 8 p.m. local time, Amerie Jo’s distraught stepfather, Angel Garza, took to Facebook along with others in the same vigil:

“I’m not asking much or writing much here, but please. It’s been 7 hours and I still haven’t heard anything about my love.

Please fb help me find my daughter.”

Garza, who had raised Amerie Jo with her mother since she was a child, returned to Facebook just after 11 p.m. local time with the message that Amerie Jo was one of the victims.

“Please don’t take a second for granted,” he wrote. “Hug your family. Tell them you love them. i love you amerie jo Take care of your little brother for me.”

Her grandmother, Arreola, said the Texas Rangers notified the family that Amerie Jo had been fatally wounded and that her body was at the Bexar County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy. She said authorities and survivors of the shooting told her:

“So the shooter went in and said to the kids, ‘You’re going to die.’ And she had her phone and she called 911. And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood.”

Arreola said she was told Amerie Jo died instantly. She leaves behind a little brother aged 3 with whom she was in love. Arreola said of her granddaughter, “She was just super outgoing. She had a generous heart. She was always there to give someone a helping hand. She quickly became a teacher’s favorite. She had just received her AB Honor Roll award today. She was very smart and looking forward to building a life for herself.”