Writes Dionysus, Content Writer, Headline Diplomat eMagazine
Miah Cerillo, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, who survived the shooting by covering herself in a classmate’s blood has told the US Congress of the moment her teacher was killed during the massacre.
According to BBC, Miah Cerillo, 11, said, “He told her goodnight, and shot her in the head.”
In another article written by NBC news, it says Miah Cerillo also said, “He shot some of my classmates and the whiteboard.” During all this ordeal, Miah Cerillo pretended to be dead by smearing her classmate’s blood all over her as she stayed quiet and retrieved her dead teacher’s phone to call 911.
Still, according to NBC News, when asked if she feels safe at school after the massacre, Miah shook her head. “I don’t want it to happen again.” What’s more, she stated that the whole incident started when they were watching a movie and her teacher went to lock the door of her classroom and made eye contact with the gunman.
“She went back in the room, and she told us, ‘Go hide,’ and then we went to go hide behind my teacher’s desk and the backpacks, and then he shot through the window.”
As reported by BBC, the Texas primary school shooting claimed the lives of 21 people, including 19 young children and two adults, and has resurfaced the US debate over gun laws. Previous attempts to advance national gun-control regulations have often stalled.
Following an article in the Texastribune, the massacre was carried out by an 18-year-old gunman armed with two assault rifles, who ended up killing two teachers, and 19 young children, and injuring 17 others. In her narration, Miah said that her teacher had received an email and then got up to lock the door – that’s when the teacher made eye contact with the gunman in the hallway.
She also added that the shooter then shot “the little window,” presumably a section of the door to the hallway. On top of that, she said the gunman entered a neighboring classroom and was able to enter her classroom via an adjoining door. That’s when he started shooting.
Touching testimonies from various victims during the house hearing
Miah Cerillo’s father, Miguel Cerillo, was one of the people testifying in congress. As stated by an article in the BBC, he said his daughter is traumatized. Miguel Cerillo, said tearfully, “She’s not the same little girl I used to play with.” He added, “Schools are not safe anymore. Something really needs to change.”
In another testimony, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter Lexi died in Uvalde mass shooting, said, “Somewhere out there, a mom is hearing our testimony and thinking to herself, ‘I can’t imagine the pain’.” She added, “Our reality will one day be hers, unless we act out.”
As reported by an article in CNN, Roy Guerrero, a pediatrician in Texas, who also happens to be Miah Cerillo’s pediatrician, described witnessing what he described as the “Carnage in my hometown of Uvalde” during a House hearing in Washington.
Guerrero, who has lived in Uvalde his whole life said that he will never forget what he saw that day. As part of his testimony, he said, “I had heard from some of the nurses that there were two dead children who had been moved to the surgical area of the hospital.” He continued, “what I did find was something no prayer will ever relieve: Two children, whose bodies have been so pulverized by bullets fired at them, decapitated, whose flesh had been ripped apart, that the only clue as to their identities was blood-spattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them. Clinging for life and finding none.”
However, the testimonies in the house hearing weren’t for Uvalde mass shooting alone, but as well as for the Buffalo supermarket shooting. In the same article from CNN, a Buffalo supermarket shooting victim, Zeneta Everhart, the mother of Zaire Goodman, called on lawmakers to act on gun violence during the house hearing.
Zeneta said, “Lawmakers who continuously allow these mass shootings to continue by not passing stricter gun laws should be voted out.” She went on to say, “to the lawmakers who feel that we do not need stricter gun laws let me paint a picture for you: My son Zaire has a hole in the right side of his neck, two on his back, and another on his left leg caused by an exploding bullet from an AR-15. As I clean his wounds I can feel pieces of that bullet in his back. Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life. Now I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.”
In consonance with an article from NBC News, during Miah Cerillo’s testimony, Rep. Jackie Speier’s, D-Calif., mouth was wide with disbelief, Rep. Robin Kelly, DIII., dabbed her cheeks with a tissue and held back tears, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left the room before the emotional testimony.
In the same article from NBC news, it says that Guerrero concluded by saying, “But making sure our children are safe from guns, that’s the job of our politicians and leaders. In this case, you are the doctors and our country is the patient. We are lying on the operating table, riddled with bullets like the children of Robb Elementary and so many other schools. We are bleeding out and you are not there. You are sitting in your office filling out the paperworks so you can get paid.”
Bottom line
After Miah Cerillo testified about the Uvalde mass shooting, it is clear that schools in the US and even public places are not safe. From her testimony, it’s clear that the incident is very likely to reoccur. So, if the house of Congress does not amend the gun laws, this is very likely to happen again and again soon.
As reported by BBC, only a few of the 50 Republican senators appear open to new gun regulations, with Democrats suggesting narrower measures as a compromise. This shows that finding a permanent solution to this problem is going to take time.
Featured Photo by Inzmam Khan, Pexels.
