Mail carrier Mary Granados was alone in her US postal service truck when she was shot and killed by a gunman who hijacked the white vehicle in west Texas amid his frenzy of violence.

Granados, 29, was among seven people killed and 22 injured in the Saturday rampage.

A postal service statement said it was “shocked and saddened” by the events, and staff were “especially grieving the loss of our postal family member”.

Here are stories about some of Saturday’s other victims:

Edwin Peregrino

Peregrino, 25, ran into the yard of his parents’ Odessa home to investigate after hearing gunshots, his sister, Eritizi Peregrino, told the Washington Post. The gunman speeding by the home opened fire, killing him.

“It happened at our home. You think you’re safe at your own house,” Eritizi Peregrino, 23, said in an interview. “You’re not even safe at your own house.”

Eritizi’s husband also was shot. She said he is recovering.

Eritizi said her brother was home for the weekend to talk about his new job and his new life in San Antonio. “You could always count on him for anything,” she said.

Celeste Lujan, left, and Yasmin Natera hold a sign in honour of Leilah Hernandez during a vigil for victims of the Odessa shooting spree. Photograph: Jacy Lewis/AP

Leilah Hernandez

Leilah, 15, was with her family Saturday as her 18-year-old brother, Nathan, picked up a truck. Nathan and Leilah were shot while walking out of the dealership, her grandmother, Nora Leyva, told the Washington Post.

“I guess he was just looking for someone to kill,” she said.

Leyva said Leilah’s mother pushed Leilah’s nine-year-old brother under a car. Nathan wrapped his arms around Leilah and was shot in the arm. Another bullet struck Leilah near her collarbone. “Help me, help me,” the girl said as she died, Leyva said.

Leilah, an Odessa high school student, celebrated her quinceañera in May. “It was like a dream for her,” Leyva said.

Joseph Griffith

Griffith was killed while sitting at a traffic light with his wife and two children, his oldest sister, Carla Byrne, said.

“This maniac pulled up next to him and shot him, took away his life, murdered my baby brother. Like nothing,” Byrne said. “We are so broken.”

Byrne said Griffith, 40, worked six days a week to support his family. He was known for his sense of humor and an uncanny ability to impersonate people. Griffith previously worked as a math teacher. One day before his death, a former student told Griffith what an “awesome teacher he was”, his sister said.

Daniel Munoz talks about his experience being injured in Saturday’s shooting in Odessa, west Texas. Photograph: Sue Ogrocki/AP

Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Arco

Rodolfo “Rudy” Arco moved from Las Vegas to Texas about one year after the mass shooting at a country music concert there in 2017 killed 58, according to USA Today.

“He felt that Odessa was the place to go,” his sister, Maria Arco, said. “He sold everything in Vegas and moved there, in the hopes that things would be safer for him and the family.”

Rodolfo, who owned a trucking business, was driving when three bullets were shot at his truck. One of these bullets went through the window, killing him instantly, his sister reportedly said.

Maria, Rodolfo, their younger brother Emilio, immigrated to the US with their family in 1969, as Cuban refugees.

Kameron Brown

US army soldier Kameron Brown, who served in Afghanistan, was killed in the shooting. Brown, who attended high school some 200 miles away in the Texas city of Coleman, is survived by his mother, Mary Brown, and siblings, Carlton and Shana Brown.

The veteran was working at the Standard Safety & Supply equipment company.

“We are deeply saddened at the loss a member of our team. Kameron Brown died tragically as a victim of the senseless and horrifying shootings that occurred in and around Odessa on Saturday,” the company said online.

Daniel Munoz

Munoz, 28, who was injured, recalled the harrowing details of coming into the path of the gunman, who was later killed by officers. Munoz was in his car on the way to meet a friend for a drink, when he yielded to a car coming off Interstate 20. He saw a rifle in the hands of the driver.

“This is my street instincts: when a car is approaching you and you see a gun of any type, just get down,” Munoz, who moved from San Diego about a year ago to work in oil country, told the Associated Press. “Luckily I got down ... Sure enough, I hear the shots go off. He let off at least three shots on me.”

He was injured by breaking glass after bullets hit his car.

“What’s the world coming to? For real? I’m just over here minding my own business, getting my own gas,” Munoz said.

Anderson Davis

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas said 17-month-old Anderson was recovering but she faces surgery on Monday to remove shrapnel from her right chest. She also suffered injuries to her face.

Abbott says her mother, Kelby Davis, texted: “Her mouth is pretty bad, but will heal and can be fixed. Thankfully it doesn’t seem like her jaw was hit. Just lips, teeth and tongue ... We are thanking God for healing her and appreciate continued prayers.”

A joint public statement issued by the Davis family offered thanks to emergency responders, hospital staff and “strangers who offered to help us on the street”.

Abbott says the girl’s mother also texted: “Toddlers are funny because they can get shot but still want to run around and play.”