Mom died trying to save her children in church shooting

Joann Ward died trying to shield her children from the shooter. Two of her children, Brooke Ward, left, and Emily Garza, right, also died in the shooting. Joann Ward died trying to shield her children from the shooter. Two of her children, Brooke Ward, left, and Emily Garza, right, also died in the shooting. Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Mom died trying to save her children in church shooting 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS - Joann Ward loved children, but none more than her four kids: Rihanna, Emily, Brooke and Ryland. She died trying to shield them from gunfire.

When Devin Patrick Kelley walked into the First Baptist Church here and began killing people with his military-style rifle, Joann Ward pushed Rihanna Ward, 9, to the floor and covered the other three children.

"Knowing Joann, that's something she would do," said her niece, Haley Martinez.

Emily Rainn Garcia, 7, and Brooke Ward, 5, were both killed Sunday. Ryland Ward, 5, remained in critical condition Monday night after being shot four times, according to Joann's brother-in-law, Phillip Ward.

A bullet struck and ricocheted off Rihanna's glasses, Martinez said. She survived the shooting with only a couple of burns from the bullet.

"I didn't get shot because I was hiding, and Momma covered Emily, Ryland & Brooke," Rihanna told Joann's friend, Vonda Greek Smith, who posted the news on Facebook.

The death of Joann Ward, 30, and two of her daughters has stunned and devastated the tight-knit family, relatives said. Joann's husband Chris, who stayed home Sunday morning, was at University Hospital with Ryland on Monday night. Early media reports mistakenly identified Chris as the shooter, further throwing the grieving family into disarray.

Family members described Joann Ward as someone whose life centered on family and children. She worked at a day care center in nearby La Vernia and loved going to church, attending every Sunday.

Joann's "whole world," Smith described on Facebook, was "her babies."

"She was real outgoing, always respectful, always trying to do better for the community," said Phillip Ward. "She was always involved."

Martinez, 17, described her aunt as a "real country girl." Joann liked riding horses and always wore her favorite cowboy boots, usually with a pair of ripped jeans.

She also loved her two dogs: a black Great Dane, Zena, and a yellow Labrador retriever, Bubbles. An April 2016 Facebook post shows Joann facing Zane, the dog's two front paws perched on Joann's shoulders as she leans in for a kiss.

Joann's deep love of family extended to her husband Chris, a relationship that never seemed to include fights, according to Martinez.

"They were an amazing couple," Martinez said. "They were so close and they loved each other with all their hearts. They had so much love for each other, it was crazy."

Martinez, who lives in San Antonio, said she talked with her aunt almost every day, discussing everything from financial matters to upcoming weekend visits.

Joann's children, including Brooke and Emily, enjoyed fishing, Phillip Ward said. The daughters "always had smiles on their faces, which made everyone else smile," Martinez said. Brooke and Emily often asked to hang out with Martinez and her siblings.

"They were beautiful children. Just bright futures ahead of them," said Kelly Carter, Phillip's fiancée. She said her children have been devastated by the deaths of Brooke and Emily.

Martinez said Brooke and Emily loved "Frozen," the animated Disney movie, and would often dress up as princesses like the characters in the film.

"They were so sweet," Phillip Ward said.