The 11-year-old school pupil who survived the Uvalde mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers has recounted the horror she faced before US Congress as politicians try to find a compromise over gun-control legislation.
Miah Cerrillo said she is scared that gun violence could break out at her school again.
"[The gunman] told my teacher 'goodnight' and shot her in the head," Ms Cerrillo said in pre-recorded testimony.
"And then he shot some of my classmates and the white board.
"He shot my friend that was next to me ... and I thought he was going to come back to the room. I got the blood and put it all on me."
The killings at Robb Elementary School last month were part of a string of mass shootings in the US that has prompted bipartisan talks, though a deeply divided Senate will likely prevent any sweeping gun-control measures proposed by President Joe Biden.
A bipartisan group of senators is negotiating more modest proposals, including a "red flag" law that would keep firearms away from people who could do harm.
The parents of Lexi Rubio, one of the students killed, called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines but were less than hopeful that politicians would take any such actions.
Kimberly Rubio said: "We understand that for some reason, for some people — people with money to people who fund political campaigns — that guns are more important than children."
The parents also called on Congress to raise the age to buy weapons to 21, enact stronger background checks and cease firearms manufacturers' liability.
Republicans have long opposed proposals that would limit the sale of assault-style weapons, the type of firearm used in Uvalde and at a Buffalo supermarket in New York that killed 10 people in a racially inspired attack.
The mother of a survivor of the Buffalo shooting told Congress of how she felt the shrapnel inside her son while cleaning his wounds.
"Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life," said Zeneta Everhart, the mother of Zaire Goodman. "Now I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.
"As an elected official it is your duty to draft legislation that protects right here and all of the children and citizens in this country. Common-sense gun laws are not about your personal feelings or beliefs."
Democrats have indicated that Republicans would be willing to support narrow gun legislation focusing on "red flag" laws, bolstering school security and providing greater access to mental health services.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would give negotiators more time to strike a deal before putting up a vote on a sweeping Democratic-led bill.
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Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP -
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP -
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP -
A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters -
A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters -
Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters -
Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters -
A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters -
People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters -
Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP -
People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP -
Flowers are left outside the school. AFP -
Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo -
Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP -
A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP -
Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP -
Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP -
The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters -
Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters -
People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP -
A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP -
Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP -
Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA -
A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP -
Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP -
Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP -
A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP -
A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP -
Families at the vigil. AFP -
A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP -
Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP -
Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP -
Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP -
Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP -
Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters -
A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg -
Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP -
A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters
