Frantic parents described waiting on news of their children following the shooting at a primary school in Texas.
Twenty-one people have been killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, including 19 children and two teachers.
According to officials, Salvador Ramos, 18, entered the school with a handgun and possibly a rifle before opening fire.
Video appears to show gunman entering school – live updates
Rosa and Arizmendia had picked up their daughter early from school after an awards ceremony but were searching for their niece, calling hospitals, the police and fire departments.
“It’s like a horror movie,” Mrs Arizmendia told NBC.
“If it’s not our kid, it’s someone we know. It’s our neighbours.”
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Melissa Arrendondo’s 10-year-old son was in the classroom next to the room where many of the kids and the teacher were shot.
The 38-year-old was working at a convenience store when the news broke and waited for an hour before finding out her son, Jose, was okay.
“It felt like my heart was in my throat,” she said.
She added that her son had asked to leave early after the awards ceremony but her husband told him to finish the school day.
“As soon as I heard my son was fine, my heart just kind of, it was still sunk in for everybody else, because as a mother who has lost a child, I know the feeling,” Mrs Arredondo said.
“I know it takes time to heal and then to grieve over his classmates.”
‘My heart is shattered into a million pieces’
Fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles was named as the first victim and another teacher, Elisa Avila, is expected to survive after “intense surgery”.
Mrs Mireles’s cousin, Cristina Arizmendia Mireles, wrote on Facebook: “My beautiful cousin! Such a devastating day for us all! My heart is shattered into a million pieces.”
Her aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, posted a tribute on Facebook, asking for prayers for her family and the town of Uvalde, which is 80 miles (130km) west of San Antonio.
“I’m furious that these shootings continue. These children are innocent. Rifles should not be easily available to all,” she said in a statement.
“This is my hometown, a small community of less than 20,000. I never imagined this would happen to especially loved ones.
“All we can do is pray hard for our country, state, schools, and especially the families of all.
The school has 570 students in second through to fourth grades and nearly 90% are Hispanic.
