At least 18 children and one teacher are dead and possibly a dozen more are hospitalized with injuries after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in south Texas on Tuesday. The gunman is also dead.
Sgt. Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety updated the death toll to 18 children late Tuesday evening, according to CNN.
Gov. Greg Abbott previously told reporters that Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old student of Uvalde High School, abandoned his vehicle and entered Robb Elementary School with a handgun and possibly a rifle. The gunman “horrifically and incomprehensibly” killed 14 students and one teacher before responding officers opened fire and killed him, Abbott said.
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief of Police Pete Arredondo provided few details of the shooting during a late afternoon press conference. He said only that there were “several injuries” and “some deaths.”
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez told CNN that Ramos shot his grandmother and fled the scene before going to the school. The grandmother was airlifted to San Antonio and “is still holding on,” Gutierrez added.
The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District had first posted on social media at 12:17 pm CST confirming an active shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. “There is an active shooter at Robb Elementary. Law enforcement is on site. Your cooperation is needed at this time by not visiting the campus. As soon as more information is gathered it will be shared,” the post said, adding that the entire district was under “secure status.”
The Uvalde Police Department had posted an update saying the shooter was in police custody at 1:06 pm CST. It was not until Abbott’s remarks that the shooter was revealed to be dead.
Uvalde Memorial Hospital had said it had received 13 children for treatment in connection with the shooting, and “two individuals” that arrived had died. The hospital said it had transferred two children to San Antonio and another was pending transfer.
University Health hospital also said it was treating a 10-year-old child and a 66-year-old woman victim from the school and both were in critical condition.
Robb Elementary School has more than 500 students spanning grades 2, 3, and 4.
The FBI, DEA, CBP, Texas State Patrol, Texas Rangers, and other local law enforcement responded to the scene.
Uvalde is located approximately 80 miles west of San Antonio, and 60 miles from the Mexico border.
President Joe Biden ordered the American flag to be flown at half staff on all federal properties through Saturday in honor of the victims.
