The mum of the teenage school shooter who slaughtered 19 children and two teachers in Texas claims he "wasn't a violent person."
Adriana Reyes said she was surprised to learn that Salvador Ramos had opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on Tuesday.
Minutes before the massacre he had shot his grandmother.
She recalled the last time she spoke to her son on his birthday on Monday when she planned to give him a card and a Snoopy stuffed toy.
The mum denied claims that they had a toxic relationship but admitted that the 18-year-old was a loner who did not have many friends and "kept to himself."
"My son wasn't a violent person. I'm surprised by what he did," she told the MailOnline.
"I pray for those families. I'm praying for all of those innocent children, yes I am. They had no part in this."
Ramos was shot dead after killing 19 children and two teachers as well as blasting his grandmother Celia Gonzalez who is now fighting for her life.
Ms Reyes said she was unaware where Salvador shot her mum, who was blasted in the face, and said she was going to take care of her when she returned home.
The elderly woman was left in a critical condition.
Speaking from the hospital, Ms Reyes told how her mum was able to hold her hand but was unable to smile.
Ramos had bragged on social media about buying two AR-15 assault rifles and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the massacre.
He posted pictures of the weapons four days ahead of his gun rampage, including one where he tagged a woman who has since said she had no idea who he was.
In a string of messages, he claimed that he had a "secret" he wanted to share with his last message to her saying "ima air out."
Ramos worked at Wendy's restaurant where he was described as "unfriendly" by coworkers.
A former classmate further claimed that he was bullied at school.
Speaking with the Washington Post, classmate Nadia Reyes said: "He posted videos on his Instagram where the cops were there and he’d call his mom a b***h and say she wanted to kick him out.
"He’d be screaming and talking to his mom really aggressively."
Married mums and teachers Eva Mireles, 44, and Imra Garcia, 46, were among the victims who heroically lost their lives trying to protect the schoolchildren.
Several student victims who lost their lives have also now been named including Xavier Lopez, 10, Eliahana 'Elijah Cruz' Torres, 10, Rogelio Torez, Amerie Jo Garza, Neevah Bravo, Uziyah Garcia.
Some 17 people were also injured in the attack.
Governor Greg Abbott said: "Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday. Anyone who shoots his grandmother in the face has to have evil in his heart.
"But it is far more evil for someone to gun down little kids. It is intolerable and it is unacceptable for us to have in the state anybody who would kill little kids in our schools."
Democrat Beto O'Rourke, who is running against Abbott for governor, said the Republican's response to the tragedy was "predictable."
He also confronted the governor about the lack of gun laws following the attack.
