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Kimberly Jessica Vaughan

Age 14

Santa Fe, Texas

"I love you," her mom signed

She loved cats, Harry Potter, and trips to the library. She was in art first period drawing geometric shapes. Around 7:40 a.m., the class was disrupted.

She and her mother often communicated through sign language. Before her art class, they had said their goodbyes by drawing shapes through the air: “I love you.”

Kimberly Jessica Vaughan, 14, was killed in the deadliest school shooting since Parkland at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 18, 2018. “She was just too awesome for all of us down here," her mother told CNN.

By Elena Eisenstadt · Age 16
Meet the Reporters

More than 40 artists

Andy Kim

Fourth-grader with an artistic, gentle spirit

Jaden Christopher Salois

Loved rap, then his song ended

Jamie Marie Kernop

Loved her Polaroid camera, sunsets, and sunflowers

Aric Whaley

He helped his neighbors shovel snow

James J. Springer III

“The man” who never grew up

Londyn Faith Strawn

Gymnast, artist, proud owner of Buttercup

Cedric Leonard Small

"Nerd trying to be a gangster"

Zachary Mulford

Summer job turns into winter grief

Shana Lorraine Fisher

16 for only a few days

LaMar De’Shawn Foster

Son will live without his father

Peyton Nicole Hurt

Still helping others, even in death

Lia Lin Collier

A light, “unrelenting joy” extinguished

Jordan Anthony Coleman

Recent grad with a passion for art

Jesus G. Reyes

Skateboarder inspired others with his art

Joaquin Oliver

A poet silenced, a brother missed

Ricky Ryon Willis III

YouTuber was destined for great things

Beverly McBride

Purple hair, just like her dad

Fermin Alonso-Alonso Jr.

No more beautiful things to make

Lashonda Sharreice Childs

A beautician who cried for help

Rickey J. Nelson

Wanted to be a role model