A 10-year-old schoolgirl was shot dead as she tried to call 911 during America's most deadly school shooting in a decade.
An 18-year-old suspect, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, opened fire with a handgun and rifle in Robb Elementary in the city of Uvalde, Texas while clad in body armour.
Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth-grader at the school, was one of the 21 victims killed by Ramos in the deadliest American school shooting since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary a decade ago.
Garza's grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, recounted to reporters that the murderer told the class "you're going to die" before he began his bloody rampage.
Berlinda told the Daily Beast that her "super-outgoing" granddaughter tried to call 911 as she was murdered while sitting next to her best friend who was left "covered in her blood."
She called her granddaughter a "hero" for trying to get help for her and her fellow classmates.
During his brutal rampage, Ramos, who has been described as antisocial by those who knew him, slaughtered 19 children and two adults, as well as shooting his own grandmother who remains in hospital.
Amerie Jo’s distraught stepfather, who had raised her with her mum since she was a baby, broke the news on Facebook around 11pm (local time) confirming the 10-year-old was Ramos' victims.
He wrote: "Thank you everyone for the prayers and help to try to find my baby. She’s been found. My little love is now flying high.
“Please don’t take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them.
"I love you Amerie jo. Watch over your baby brother for me.”
In horrifying news, Arreola said she was told the details of her granddaughter's death by authorities.
She said: “So the gunman went in and he told the children ‘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."
Amerie Jo died immediately after being shot and is survived by her three-year-old brother.
Arreola her granddaughter was super-outgoing with a generous heart who always wanted to lend a helping hand to her family.
She loved school, was very smart and was looking forward to pursuing her dream career.
Two boys and four girls have been identified as among 19 innocent child victims, while CNN reports that families are undertaking DNA samples so the authorities can identify more children.
