Thread by @lomikriel

In April, @MarieDennise & I met a beautiful El Paso family that illustrated the city's cross-border identity. (tinyurl.com/y4zcervf) This week we were back reporting on the #elpasoshooting & were horrified to hear they were among the first victims.
houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

They were raising money outside the Walmart for their 10-year-old daughter Karina’s soccer team, selling the traditional Mexican snacks of chicharrónes and aguas frescas when the gunman started firing.

The victims from the fundraiser were quintessential El Pasoans: Hispanic and bilingual with deep roots in Texas and Mexico. Their lives revolve around their children’s baseball and soccer teams. Their lives spanned the border.

“They are parents like us. Their lives revolve around their kids. They either have soccer practice or baseball practice. One parent is here with this kid, and the other parent is with the other kid. I don’t understand why this would happen to parents like that.”

One mother, Jessica, urged her 6 year-old to "run!" She always called him her “miracle," after almost losing him five years ago when the boy was born with a congenital defect and underwent open heart surgery at just two months. She couldn't lose him now.

Her 10-year-old daughter was hiding in the Walmart bakery, as the gunman seemed to taunt them. “I’m coming to get you,” he said, over and over.
See their story here, photos @MarieDennise edit: @chronsnyder design: @fotojaz @stephanierlamm
#ElPasoStrong
houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…