Grandfather Died While Shielding Wife and Granddaughter During El Paso Massacre

Grandfather Died While Shielding Wife and Granddaughter During El Paso Massacre
People arrive at MacArthur Elementary looking for family and friends as the school is being used a re-unification center during the aftermath of a shooting at the Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall, in El Paso, Texas on Aug. 3, 2019. (Briana Sanchez/The El Paso Times via AP)
Jack Phillips
8/5/2019
Updated:
8/5/2019

New pictures of the victims in the El Paso Walmart rampage have been released, including of a mother of three, an Army veteran, and a teenage boy.

President Trump on Monday morning said the suspect’s manifesto was “consumed with racist hate.”

“In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy,” he said, according to CNN. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul.”

Reports say that the suspect has been identified as Patrick Crusius. He was charged with capital murder and is being held without bond.

Grandfather Shields Family Member

According to KVIA in El Paso, some of the victims were identified as David Johnson, 63; Javier Amir Rodriguez, of Horizon City; Arturo Benavides, 60, of El Paso; Leo Campos, of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo; Jordan Anchondo, 24, and Andre Anchondo, 23, of El Paso; Jessica Coca Garcia and Memo Garcia, of Salina, Kansas; Maribel Latin of El Paso; and a number of Mexican nationals.

A family member of Johnson issued a statement to KVIA: “My uncle worked long hours during the week, so he made it a point to dedicate the weekends to his family. My aunt stated that while checking out they heard gun shots.”

The person explained that “my uncle Dave then directed her and my little cousin to get down and if anything happened to him; to run to Sams. The next thing she knew he was on the ground covered in blood.”

The aunt heard the shooter walk past her as she played dead and shielded “my little cousin,” the statement said.

“When she felt clear of danger she looked up and found my uncle nonresponsive. She then grabbed his cell phone and ran toward Sams,“ the person said, adding, ”My uncle was the kindest and most giving individual I’ve ever known.”

Rodriguez was slated to attend the tenth grade at Horizon High School, said an official.

“​​​​​​We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of one of our students, Javier Amir Rodriguez, who formerly attended Horizon HS. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with his parents and family,” Clint Independent School District told the news outlet.

More on the Identified Victims

Andre and Jordan Anchondo
Jordan Anchondo, a 25-year-old mother of three, along with her husband Andre were shot and killed while they shopped for school supplies. Jordan shielded the couple’s 2-month-old son Paul from the gunfire. The baby survived the shooting but suffered broken bones, media reported.

The couple had just celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Jordan had just dropped off her five-year-old daughter at a cheerleading practice, CBS News reported.

Fox News reported that Andre had started a business in El Paso, building things from granite and other stone and had nearly finished building a new home for the family.

Arturo Benavides

Arturo Benavides, a 67-year-old Army veteran, was in the checkout line when he was shot, while his wife was in the restroom. He was well-known around the community, having worked as a bus driver for Sun Metro for years. He was “a strong-willed, caring, giving, and special person,” his niece Jacklin Luna said during an interview with Buzzfeed.

Javier Rodriguez

Javier Rodriguez, 15, was entering his sophomore year at Horizon High School in El Paso. He was a good student and loved soccer, Elvira Rodriguez, his aunt told USA Today. “He was such a loving boy,” she said in Spanish to the newspaper.

Angie Englisbee

Angie Englisbee, an 86-year-old grandmother, was also killed, relatives told media. Her son Will Englisbee told CNN that his brother last spoke to their mother by cell phone while she waited in line at Walmart, just minutes before the shooting.

Leo Campos and Maribel Hernandez

Leo Campos and Maribel Hernandez had just dropped off their dog at the groomers and then went shopping, family members told Fox News, saying police told them that both had died.

David Johnson

David Johnson, 63, also died, according to his family. Fox News reported online that the family said Johnson died protecting his wife and 9-year-old granddaughter.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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