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2 Uvalde children texted ‘I love you’ before bed. They were buried side by side

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez and Xavier James Lopez, both 10, were killed in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.

The night before they both made the honor roll, Annabell Rodriguez and Xavier Lopez, both 10, texted each other “I love you.”

They played together as toddlers and reconnected on the first day of fourth grade at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, when Annabell came home and told her mom about a boy who smelled and dressed “really nice.”

Soon after the two became friends again, their families came together for barbecues. By spring, Annabell had a picture of Xavier strung around her neck, which she wore to his little league games. Other days, she kept it safe in her backpack.

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On May 24, they were killed alongside 17 other children and two teachers in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. At least 17 others were wounded.

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Annabelle Rodriguez was fatally shot Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in a mass shooting at Robb...
Annabelle Rodriguez was fatally shot Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Xavier Javier Lopez was fatally shot Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in a mass shooting at Robb...
Xavier Javier Lopez was fatally shot Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Xavier’s funeral was Tuesday, and Annabell was laid to rest the following day. They were buried side by side.

Their connection was apparent to everyone, including their teacher, Arnulfo Reyes, who is still in the hospital recovering from two gunshot wounds. He told ABC News Xavier would make things for Annabell and write notes for her in class.

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It was their mothers who discovered the kids were texting each other to say “I love you” before bed.

“Me and Felicha would laugh, like, ‘How do y’all know about love?’” Monica Gallegos, Annabell’s mother, told ABC.

In Xavier’s obituary, his family said he was an “active young boy” who enjoyed playing baseball for the Blue Jays baseball team. He had been eagerly awaiting a summer of swimming.

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In Annabell’s, her family said she was a “sweet young girl” who loved the color blue, watching TikTok videos and spending time with her sisters and family.

“Why god why these sweet babies who didn’t deserve this, (they) were all happy for summer vacation,” her older sister Lidia Anthony Luna wrote on Facebook.