Arnulfo Reyes embraces Gloria Cazares, mother of 9-year-old Jackie Cazares, who was one of his students killed in his classroom at Robb Elementary School.U VALDE — A young Arnulfo Reyes was inspired by the 1985 hit song “We are the World.” At 8 years old, he was drawn to its message of love to make a better world and a better day.
He never imagined his path would lead to this dark place: sitting on his old recliner, scars from America’s second-deadliest school shooting a year ago on his body and in his heart and mind. Nineteen children and two teachers murdered. Reyes, 46, was shot twice; once in the arm, which was shattered; and once in the back, where his wound was the size of a grapefruit.“I don’t have nobody I can go and bond with,” he said during an interview in March. “I can’t say, ‘How are your stitches? How are you dealing with losing 11 kids?’ ”
There have been more than 100 mass shooting deaths in Texas since 2015, and during that time Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican lawmakers have made it easier to purchase and wield guns. They celebrate guns as a symbol of freedom, even as gun violence takes and destroys lives.Reyes shares his story to make a difference. He has shared it with local and national media. He shares his story with his family, friends and therapist and, once, at a rally to end gun violence. He shares it with God.
Some days, he can’t function. Others, he celebrates small milestones at therapy or creates customized offerings for the graves of his “11 angels.”He doesn’t feel safe in crowds, like those at mass at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he hasn’t returned. Pedro “Pete” Arredondo, the Uvalde CISD school police chief who failed to take charge as terrified children called 911, is his primo, his cousin.He also wondered about his other cousin, Uvalde Police Department officer Justin Mendoza. Where was he? He was right outside the classrooms, Mendoza’sAfter officers killed the shooter in Reyes’ classroom, they called for survivors.