The mother of the 18-year-old who shot 19 children and two adults dead last week at a school in Uvalde, Texas, has pleaded for forgiveness.
According to the New York Post, Adriana Martinez, mother of Salvador Ramos, who was eventually shot dead by law enforcement after entering Robb Elementary School and opening fire, insisted she had no idea what had caused him to snap.
Speaking to Spanish-language station Televisa, as per CNN, she said: “I have no words to say, I don’t know what he was thinking.”
The US has been left reeling in a state of shock following the massacre at the school, prompting widespread debate concerning the country’s current gun laws and how they might be fixed to avoid further school shootings in the future.
Adriana Martinez claimed her son must have had his reasons.
“He had his reasons for doing what he did. Please don’t judge him. I only want the innocent children who died to forgive me,” she said.
“Forgive me, forgive my son. I know he had his reasons.”
When asked what his motives behind the horrific attack might have been, Adriana said: “To get closer to those children instead of paying attention to the other bad things. I have no words. I don’t know.”
During Ramos’ attack on the school, some 21 people, consisting of 19 children and two teachers, lost their lives. 17 others were injured, including his grandmother, who he shot in the face before leaving for Robb Elementary.
His mother said that her son was “not a violent person” but could turn “aggressive” when angry.
Ramos’ father, who shares his name, said he was ““sorry [for] what my son did.”
Speaking to the Daily Beast last week, he said: “I never expected my son to do something like that. He should’ve just killed me, you know, instead of doing something like that to someone.”
He added that his son “was a good person”.
“He was a quiet person, stuck to himself,” he said. “He didn’t bother nobody. People were always bothering him.”
Rest in peace to the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting. Our thoughts and prayers are with their heartbroken families.
Please, share this article to help us encourage debate as to the existing gun laws in our country, and how they might be amended to put an end to the mindless violence associated with them once and for all.
