Santa Fe High School victims: Exchange student, substitute teacher among those killed

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

An exchange student and a substitute teacher are among the victims of a mass shooting Friday at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, Texas, where 10 people were killed and 10 injured when a gunman opened fire at the school.

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Shana Fisher

Shana Fisher doted on her dog Kallie and was a beautiful, smart, funny and talented girl, her mother, Sadie Rodriguez, told the Houston Chronicle. She turned 16 the same month she was killed.

Rodriguez told The Los Angeles Times that her 16-year-old daughter "had 4 months of problems from this boy (the gunman)."

"He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no," the Times reported, citing a private message from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez told The Associated Press that the week before the shooting, Fisher "stood up to him" by "embarrass(ing) him in class." Rodriguez gave no other details, the AP reported.

On Facebook, Rodriguez said she created a fundraiser in her daughter's memory.

“i want to help teachers and parents (be) more aware of teens and their mental state,” she wrote. “My daughter was the most sweet and shy young lady. She never hurt anyone.

“This boy. i cant even do this. i cant even finish this. it isnt even fair. i have to stay strong for Kaylenn, her younger sister. My heart is being ripped out. My baby is gone. i cant even go into her room.”

Sabika Sheikh

Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh, 18, was among the nine students killed in the massacre, according to news reports.

Sheikh came to the United States as part of the YES program, which was established by Congress after 9/11 and is funded by the State Department.

The program provides scholarships for high school students from majority Muslim countries to spend an academic year in the U.S. They go to school, live with host families, learn about American values and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures.

The Pakistani Embassy in Washington confirmed Sheikh’s death to CBS News.

Sheikh was scheduled to return home next month.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued an official statement Saturday on the death of Sheikh.

 

Ann Perkins

Substitute teacher Ann Perkins, 64, happened to be teaching Friday when gunfire erupted at the school. She is the only teacher killed in the massacre.

She’s described as a “beloved teacher,” who loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

 

Chris Stone

A junior at Santa Fe High School, Chris Stone was one of the victims of Friday's shooting rampage, according to ABC 13.

He was a student in an art class at the school, which was the first target the gunman attacked.

Stone was among several students who blocked the door to try to prevent the gunman from entering their art classroom, freshman Abel San Miguel, who was in the class, told The Associated Press.

 

Cynthia Tisdale

Cynthia Tisdale was a teacher's aide at Santa Fe High School, her family told CNN.

Her niece, Leia Olinde, said the family was notified of her death Friday night.

Her brother-in-law, John Tisdale, posted on Facebook that Cythnia Tisdale was a member of the Anchor Bible Baptist Church in Pharr, Texas.

“We are all heart-broken,” John Tisdale wrote.

Kimberly Vaughan

KImberly Vaughan was in art class when shots rang out Friday morning. Her mother, Rhonda Hart, announced on Facebook that her daughter was one of the children who did not make it.

"She is in heaven," Hart said. "I am heartbroken."

Later on Facebook Hart urged people to "Call your damn senators. Call your congressmen."

“We need gun control. We need to protect our kids,” she wrote.

Jared Black

Jared Black, 17, really liked comic books, his uncle, John Conrad, told KHOU. Conrad said his nephew loved to draw his own artwork.

Black’s birthday party had been scheduled for Saturday, family members said.

Black loved playing Minecraft on Xbox and Pokémon Go on his cellphone, they told the Chicago Tribune.

Aaron Kyle McLeod 

Aaron Kyle McLeod, 15, a freshman who went by Kyle, could always be counted on to make light of any situation, close friend Kali Reeves told the Chicago Tribune.

"He was never one to be a sad or down person, he always had to joke or laugh about things," Reeves told the Tribune. "He was just outgoing and super sweet. He definitely didn't deserve this."

Christian Riley Garcia

Family members told KHOU that 15-year-old Christian Riley Garcia, who hoped to enlist in the military after high school, “died a true hero.”

"From what we've gathered thus far he got in front of other students and barricaded the door," his aunt, Sarah Saunders told KHOU. "He laid down his life so others could have a chance."

Saunders said Christian hoped to enlist in the military when he became of age. He felt it was his calling to serve others.

"He had the biggest heart and the biggest chunk of ours feels to have left with him,"d Saunders said.

On Facebook, Crosby Church, which Garcia attended, announced it would have a memorial service Monday to remember Garcia and the others killed in the shooting.

“Our hearts are broken to see such deep loss of so many precious individuals,” the church wrote. “We will especially be lifting up (Garcia’s) family -- mother Shannon, father D J little sister Candace who are a part of our body, our family, our church.

Angelique Ramirez

Family members confirmed to KHOU that Angelique Ramirez was among the victims in the shooting.

Sylvia Pritchett, who identified herself as Ramirez's aunt posted on Facebook that "with a broken heart and a soul that just can't process all this right now, I have to announce my niece was one of the fatalities."

Ramirez’s family told KHOU that the student “was creative beyond belief.”

Check back for updates on this developing story.

This photo provided by the Galveston County Sheriff's Office shows Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who law enforcement officials took into custody Friday, May 18, 2018, and identified as the suspect in the deadly school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, near Houston. 

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