Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Pay Tribute to Uvalde Shooting Victim's Family

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, traveled to Uvalde, Texas on Saturday to meet with the family of Irma Garcia, a beloved schoolteacher who tragically lost her life in the Robb Elementary School shooting.

Garcia, who dedicated 23 years of her life to teaching, was one of the victims of the devastating shooting that took the lives of 21 people, including two teachers and 19 children. The tragic incident occurred when an 18-year-old gunman entered the school with a rifle and opened fire in May 2022. Sadly, just two days after her passing, her husband Joe Garcia also passed away from a heart attack.

Irma Garcia's nephew, John Martinez, shared with CNN that Harry and Meghan have stayed in touch with his family after the tragic event. The US Justice Department and other agencies have acknowledged the poor law enforcement response to the massacre.

Martinez mentioned that Meghan participated in and gave a speech at the South by Southwest festival in Austin on Friday. The following day, Harry and Meghan visited Uvalde to check in on the family.

Carlos Martinez with Prince Harry.

Carlos Martinez with Prince Harry.

John Martinez

“It was such a beautiful experience, they’re so nice and compassionate, very down to earth, humble people,” Martinez told CNN in a text message.

He added that it was a pleasant surprise when Meghan called his mom out of the blue one day to share the news that she would be visiting the kids soon. Of course, they all got very excited.

FILE - Reggie Daniels pays his respects a memorial at Robb Elementary School, June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, created to honor the victims killed in the school shooting. Nearly two years after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde that left 19 children and two teachers dead, the city council will discuss Thursday, March 7, 2024, the results of an independent investigation it requested into the response by local police officers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Reggie Daniels visits a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on June 9, 2022. The memorial was created to honor the victims of a school shooting that took place nearly two years ago, resulting in the tragic deaths of 19 children and two teachers. The Uvalde city council will be reviewing the findings of an independent investigation into the response of local police officers during the shooting. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

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Uvalde shooting: Victims’ families furious after independent investigator clears officers of blame

Martinez mentioned that the couple had a lengthy conversation with Irma and Joe's children about their future plans and goals.

Before departing, Meghan pleasantly surprised Martinez's mother with a birthday cake. A video shared by Martinez captures them singing 'Happy Birthday' to Claudia Martinez, Irma's sister, who mentioned that it was not the first time Harry and Meghan had met the family in person.

Meghan went to Uvalde a few days after the tragic shooting. She was spotted placing flowers at a memorial in front of the county courthouse.

According to a spokesperson for the Duchess who spoke to CNN, Meghan made the trip as a mother, offering her personal condolences and support to a community going through a difficult time of grief.

The royal visit occurred just two days after an independent investigator shared his report at a city council meeting. The report cleared all local police officers of any wrongdoing in their response to the shooting. This news angered many families of the victims, who criticized the findings and demanded accountability for the attack that happened almost two years ago.

Irma Garcia is seen in an image from her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website.

Irma Garcia is seen in an image from her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website.

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District

Retired Austin police detective Jesse Prado, the investigator, mentioned in his report that the responding officers acted in good faith. However, multiple agencies have criticized law enforcement for mishandling their response to the massacre.

The meeting started with a prayer but quickly turned into a heated exchange of anger and shouting. Prado acknowledged that his investigation revealed "many failures" in the law enforcement response, although he did not point out any specific local police officers for neglecting their duties on that day.

Veronica Mata, whose 10-year-old daughter Tess was killed, expressed her disbelief at the notion that the actions were done in good faith. She pointed out that the responders waited for 77 minutes despite receiving multiple calls about children still being alive inside. She vowed to continue fighting for justice for their loved ones, as she believes no one else will do it.

This report was contributed to by CNN’s Ray Sanchez and Rachel Clarke.

Editor's P/S:

The Uvalde school shooting was a horrific tragedy that left 21 lives lost, including 19 innocent children. It is heartbreaking to read about the pain and suffering experienced by the families of the victims. Harry and Meghan's visit to Uvalde to meet with the family of Irma Garcia, one of the slain teachers, was a commendable act of compassion and support. Their gesture brought a glimmer of hope and solace to a community still reeling from the unimaginable loss.

It is deeply concerning to learn that an independent investigator has cleared all local police officers of any wrongdoing in their response to the shooting. This decision has understandably angered the families of the victims, who believe that there was a gross mishandling of the situation. The fact that multiple agencies have criticized law enforcement's actions raises serious questions about the adequacy of the investigation. It is crucial that a thorough and impartial inquiry be conducted to identify any failures or negligence that may have contributed to the tragic outcome. The families of the victims deserve justice and accountability, and it is imperative that those responsible for any shortcomings in the police response be held to account.