Texas school shooting: Atlanta Falcons safety seeks survivor who wore his jersey number
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ATLANTA — An Atlanta Falcons player is working to connect with one of the survivors of the Robb Elementary School massacre after the safety saw the boy wearing his jersey in a televised interview.
The survivor whom Marlowe is trying to reach is 9-year-old Daniel Ruiz, WSB reported.
According to CNN, Ruiz’ cousin, Ellie Garcia, was among the 19 students killed in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, when 18-year-old Salvador Ramos opened fire on the elementary school before barricading himself in a fourth-grade classroom. Two teachers were also killed in the rampage.
Ruiz and his mother spoke with CNN about the moment the gunman approached his classroom. Ruiz said his teacher locked the door but was shot. He hid under a table near the wall, WSB reported.
“I could still see his face,” Ruiz said. “I could see him staring at people in front of me.”
Ruiz said he later escaped by climbing out of a broken window. Two other people who were hurt in his classroom also survived, WSB reported.
During his interview with CNN, Ruiz wore an Atlanta Falcons jersey and hat.
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Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, fourth from left, prays for her cousin Eliahana Torres and other victims, at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A woman walks toward Robb Elementary School to lay flowers for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a stand with an image depicting Jesus outside Robb Elementary School to place it around a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jessica Morales, whose cousin, Ellie Garcia, was killed in this week's elementary school shooting, writes encouraging words on her SUV in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. "You don't expect things like this to happen," said Morales. "It left a big hole in my heart." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper is handed flowers and stuffed animals outside Robb Elementary School to be placed at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Members of the Mennonite community of Uvalde sing hymns to offer comfort to people visiting a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Messages written in chalk decorate the footpaths at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A family prays at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A group of bikers pray outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Pastor Humberto Jnr, center, wearing a t-shirt that says "In Uvalde As In Heaven," leads a prayer circle at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A "Uvalde Strong" sign is posted on an electric pole in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. Nineteen children were looking forward to a summer filled with Girl Scouts and soccer and video games. Two teachers were closing out a school year that they started with joy and that had held such promise. They're the 21 people who were killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jarrod Tomassi, 45, holds an American flag outside Robb Elementary School while praying for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People carry flowers as they walk toward a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in the school shooting earlier in the week in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A man kisses the cross of Layla Salazar at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a sign handed to him to be place at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Bikers wear T-shirts that say "United with Uvalde" to honor victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Flowers and candles are placed around crosses at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A large teddy bear is placed at a memorial in front of crosses bearing the names of the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A law enforcement personnel stands next to a large teddy bear at a memorial honoring the victims in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People pay their respects at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People visit a memorial set up in a town square to honor the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper places a tiara on a cross honoring Ellie Garcia, one of the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
