On Tuesday afternoon, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults.
Investigators said the 18-year-old suspect possessed a handgun, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, and high-capacity magazines.
Before the rampage, the kid is suspected of shooting his grandmother.
He may have been a high school student in the neighborhood, according to local media.
The shooting began at 11:32 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief of Police Pete Arredondo, and police believe the attacker "did act alone during this heinous crime".
Governor Greg Abbott said the shooter, Salvador Ramos, abandoned a vehicle before entering the school and opened fire "horribly, incomprehensibly."
According to Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety, who spoke to CNN, a Uvalde school district police officer who worked at the school witnessed Ramos emerge from the truck with a gun and wearing body armor.
Mr. Estrada said the officer "engaged" the subject but was unable to stop him. Two more policemen from the Uvalde Police Department attempted to stop Ramos but were unsuccessful and requested assistance.
A number of the deceased youngsters have been identified.
Sad update… Families tell me they’re going one by one inside getting swabbed for DNA to help investigators pic.twitter.com/zTuWr873Gk — Anayeli Ruiz KHOU (@AnayeliNews) May 25, 2022
In comments released Tuesday night, family members acknowledged the deaths of 10-year-olds Xavier Lopez and Amerie Jo Garza.
Xavier Lopez, 10. He was a 4th grader at Robb Elementary. His family confirms he died in today’s school shooting. pic.twitter.com/Qp2JatwZ4O — Dillon Collier (@dilloncollier) May 25, 2022
Angel Garza announced the death of his daughter, Amerie, on Facebook.
"My little love is now flying high with the angels above. Please don't take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them," he said.
Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles, two people who perished, were both teachers.
The shooting has sparked an outpouring of sadness and indignation, with several prominent politicians urging the passage of gun control legislation.
Robb Elementary School teachers were “breaking windows around the school, trying to evacuate children,” while shots were being fired inside, says Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. pic.twitter.com/GLgDZBiaVT — CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) May 25, 2022
No parent should drop their kid off at school and then need a DNA test to ID which child is their child because they have been blown to pieces by an AR 15 — David Hogg 🌻 (@davidhogg111) May 25, 2022
These shootings are a policy choice by Republicans. #Uvalde pic.twitter.com/All9XKSBWU — No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) May 24, 2022
We living in some TRYING TIMES… It’s Heavy…😞I am praying for everyone that is struggling MENTALLY/FINANCIALLY/PHYSICALLY that some PEACE be RESTORED! So many in the world is dealing with pain & I don’t have the answers but I send you LOVE virtually💜🙏🏾 — Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) May 25, 2022
Prayers for the people in Texas man those are kids that were killed smh this world needs God smh — OFFSET (@OffsetYRN) May 24, 2022
Our hearts go out to those in texas at the Robb elementary school and everyone effected. Something has to change in this country. We are the only country where kids go to school and could wind up shot. — THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) May 24, 2022
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Just last week a targeted mass shooting at a market in Buffalo and now a school shooting in Uvalde. Communities should be safe in their grocery stores, our CHILDREN should be safe in class! This has to end.
Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. We need change. 💔 — Becky G. (@iambeckyg) May 24, 2022
Another mass shooting in Texas resulting in 14 children and 1 adult dead. This time perpetrated by an 18 year old.
One thing we can count on is that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is going to be done about it. — Antonio Sanchez 💀 (@AntonioDrumsX) May 24, 2022
We'd like to believe that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, but we don't. We are can't find the collective courage to get rid of the politicians who sit on their bloody hands when it comes to gun control but at the same time call themselves "pro life” pic.twitter.com/gCNNsfrTUL — John Mellencamp (@johnmellencamp) May 25, 2022
Watch this please https://t.co/QzBNHMLLWm — Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) May 24, 2022
Fuck you @NRA Fuck you, every elected official who’s voted against gun reform. Fuck you @GregAbbott_TX and fuck you, every Republican voter who claims to be “pro-life” but don’t actually give the slightest shit about humans once their born. You are ignorant and complicit. — Richard Marx (@richardmarx) May 24, 2022
