SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas – Brooke Ward, 5, was the daughter of Joann Ward, 30, and sister of Emily Garcia, 7. All three were killed in the shooting.
Joann Ward died attempting to protect her children during the attack, according to a family friend.
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Her father, Chris Ward, and two siblings, Ryland and Rihanna Ward, survived. Ryland was hospitalized after being shot several times in the attack.
Joann Ward had pushed down all her children when she saw the gunman enter the church and open fire on them.
Texas Church Shooting: Mother killed while trying to protect children from gunfire
"Little Rihanna was there at the shooting but mommy pushed her down when she saw the shooter open fire," the friend, Vonda Smith, said on Facebook.
"So in (Rihanna's) words, 'I didn’t get shot because I was hiding, and momma covered Emily, Ryland & Brooke,'” according to Smith’s Facebook post.