The father of a 10-year-old killed in the Uvalde shooting says 'assault rifles shouldn't be sold'

• The father of a Uvalde massacre victim told The Independent that "assault rifles shouldn't be sold."
• His 10-year-old daughter was among 19 children and two adults killed at Robb Elementary.

The father of a child who was killed in the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last week said in a new interview that "assault rifles shouldn't be sold."

"We understand having an assault rifle for the military, not personal use," Jessie Rodriguez told The Independent reported. "Not to gun down our children … all the children gunned down like they were animals."

His 10-year-old daughter, Annabell, died in the shooting at Robb Elementary School along with 18 other children and two teachers. Annabell was described by family members as an honor-roll student.

Rodriguez told The Independent that Annabell wanted to become a veterinarian and "loved music." Her cousin, Jacklyn Cazares, was also killed in the attack.

The gunman was identified as an 18-year-old whom authorities fatally shot at the scene. Officials previously said he purchased an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle shortly after his birthday earlier in May. In Texas, a person can buy a rifle at the age of 18.

"There's no justice in selling a kid an assault rifle and especially that amount of clips and bullets," Rodriguez told The Independent. "It's unbelievable."

Officials including President Joe Biden, who visited Uvalde over the weekend, called for gun control in wake of the tragedy.

"To everyone impacted by the horrific elementary-school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: We grieve with you," Biden tweeted Sunday. "We pray with you. We stand with you. And we're committed to turning this pain into action."