Heartbreaking: El Paso Mom and Dad Died Saving 2-Month-Old Baby as They Shielded Him from Gunfire
The country is still weeping Monday afternoon, Aug. 5, as the horrific acts of violence in Texas and Ohio continue to be shared.
On the morning of Aug. 3, 2019, a 21-year-old man walked into a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, and began shooting; so far, 22 people have died as a result.
Less than 15 hours later, another gunman opened fire in a Dayton, Ohio, neighborhood; nine people died, including the shooter’s sister.
In the aftermath of past acts of violence, like the Las Vegas shooting in 2017 and the Christchurch shooting in March 2019, stories of heroism and strong community have shone through and served as reminders of heroism in the midst of great tragedy.
One heartbreaking story from the El Paso shooting this past Saturday highlights how powerful a mother’s love for her child can be.
Among the 22 victims from the horrific event was a 25-year-old mother of three, Jordan Anchondo. Jordan and her husband of one year, Andre Anchondo, dropped off her 5-year-old daughter at cheerleading practice.
The couple then took their 2-month-old son, Paul, to Walmart as they went shopping for school supplies. While they were shopping, the now-infamous shooter walked into the supercenter and began shooting.
Based on the infant’s injuries, it appears that Jordan fell on top of her son, protecting him from the line of fire. The baby was taken to the University Medical Center of El Paso to receive treatment where other family members, including Jordan’s sister Leta Jamrowski, anxiously waited to hear about the extent of little Paul’s injuries.
“From the baby’s injuries, they said that more than likely my sister was trying to shield him,” Jamrowski told The Associated Press.
“He pretty much lived because she gave her life.”
Jordan’s death was confirmed only a few hours after the devastating shooting, but family and friends weren’t sure of her husband’s status.
On Sunday evening, Andre’s brother, Tito, confirmed that his brother had also died in the mass shooting.
“It’s official……he’s gone,” Tito wrote on Sunday evening.
According to a GoFundMe set up for the family by Andre’s brother, Andre had died shielding both his wife and child.
Since the heartbreaking news about the heroic couple began circulating, people from all over the country have rallied around the Anchondo family and have donated over $30,000 between the GoFundMe campaign and the Facebook Fundraiser to take care of the children who were robbed of a life with their parents.
Stories like Jordan and Andre’s remind us to take a moment and grieve for the lives that were lost in such tragic and heartbreaking events. Their story also reminds us to remember stories of love even during times of profound loss.
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