On Saturday, Jordan and Andre Anchondo went to the El Paso Walmart in Texas with the youngest of their three children, 2-month-old baby Paul, to shop for school supplies for their eldest child. When a gunman opened fire, Jordan wrapped herself around the baby to protect him, and Andre jumped in front of Jordan to protect her. Jordan and Andre were able to shield their baby from the gunfire, but they paid for his safety with their lives.
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Thus far, the El Paso Walmart shooting has claimed the lives of 22 people, including the Anchondos. Thanks to the Anchondos' love and bravery, their son Paul is not included in the death toll. Paul did suffer some injuries, including broken bones, but he is alive thanks to the heroism of his parents. Now three very young children are left without parents. It's a tragic ending for a couple who was celebrating the birth of their youngest child and their wedding anniversary.
Paul is the youngest of three children and the only boy.
Just two months ago, the Anchondos welcomed their first son, Paul, into the world. On Saturday, Paul was the only child the couple brought with them to Walmart to buy school supplies for their 5-year-old daughter.
Paul was hospitalized and treated for broken bones.
After the shooting, Jordan was found covering Paul. She must have fallen on top of him at some point, and that's how some of his bones were broken.
“From the baby’s injuries, they said that more than likely my sister was trying to shield him,” Leta Jamrowski, Jordan's sister, told the Associated Press. “So when she got shot she was holding him and she fell on him, so that’s why he broke some of his bones. So he pretty much lived because she gave her life.”
Fortunately, the Anchondos' daughters weren't with them during the shooting.
The Anchondos' daughters, who are 5 years old and 2 years old, were spared the trauma of being at Walmart when the shooting happened, but now they have to deal with the trauma of being left without parents. It's absolutely heartbreaking that they lost their parents at such a young age and because of such senseless hate and violence.
The couple had just celebrated their one-year anniversary.
On July 30, Jordan and Andre celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary. This should have been a beautiful time in their lives, with many more years to look forward to.
Here Jordan's aunt and uncle share what they know of the story.
In the clip, Jordan's aunt and uncle recount what they have been told happened. Details are still emerging, and the family is doing the best they can to piece everything together.
The Anchondos' extended family is coping with the tremendous loss while rallying around the couple's children. Our hearts go out to them. No one should ever have to go through what they are going through. No one should ever have to die while shopping for school supplies for their kids.
