tragedy strikes
21 dead in shooting at Texas elementary school
An 18-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, killing at least 19 children and two adults, state police said. This is the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
The suspect, identified as Salvador Ramos, is dead; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said it's believed responding police officers killed him. Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D) told CNN that the suspect shot his grandmother at her home before driving to the school. After crashing his car outside of the building, "he ran into the school and all this carnage proceeded to unfold after that time," Gutierrez said. The suspect's grandmother is in critical condition at a hospital in San Antonio, he added..
Abbott said the shooter was armed with a handgun and possibly a rifle. Gutierrez, citing state police, later clarified that the shooter had two military-style rifles he bought on his 18th birthday. He was also wearing body armor.
"When parents drop their kids off at school, they have every expectation to know that they're going to be able to pick their child up when that school day ends," Abbott said. "And there are families who are in mourning right now."
The number of people wounded remains unknown. On Tuesday evening, Uvalde Memorial Hospital said it was treating 15 children and a 45-year-old who was grazed by a bullet. University Health in San Antonio said it was treating one child and a 66-year-old woman in critical condition. The Children's Hospital said it was treating victims of the shooting but did not give a number. Abbott also said two police officers were injured but are expected to recover.
This deadly attack comes only 10 days after another 18-year-old gunman carried out what's believed to be a racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket, killing 10.
This is a breaking news story and has been updated throughout.