By Eugene Garcia and Dario Lopez-Mills
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says 15 people were killed in a shooting Tuesday at an elementary school.
Abbott says the suspected shooter, an 18-year-old man, also died and was believed to be killed by responding officers. He says 14 children and one teacher were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, about 85 miles west of San Antonio.
Abbott says the shooter had a handgun and possibly a rifle.
Thirteen children were taken by ambulance or bus to Uvalde Memorial Hospital after an active shooter was reported at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, about 85 miles (135 kilometers) west of San Antonio, officials with the hospital said. The nature and severity of the people’s injuries wasn’t immediately known, as is whether the dead are included in that count.
Another hospital, University Hospital in San Antonio, said a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition.
The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District had said an active shooter was reported at the school, which has an enrollment of just under 600 students. Earlier, the district had said that all schools in the district were locked down because of gunshots in the area.
A heavy police presence surrounded the school Tuesday afternoon, with officers in heavy vests diverting traffic and FBI agents coming and going from the building. School and city officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Breaking News: A gunman killed 14 children and a teacher at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said. The 18-year-old suspect was also killed. https://t.co/5zJTcrL1NK
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 24, 2022
The district said that the city’s civic center was being used as a reunification center.
Uvalde is home to about 16,000 people and is the seat of government for Uvalde County. The town is about 75 miles from the border with Mexico. Robb Elementary is in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes.
Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on the school shooting in Uvalde.
— Daily Wire News (@DailyWireNews) May 24, 2022
UPDATE: The reported suspect, who was killed by responding police, has been identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. He reportedly shot his grandmother before opening fire at the school.
#BREAKING: Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez (D) — who represents Uvalde, Texas where the elementary school shooting took place — says on CNN that the death toll is now *21* people, including 18 children. pic.twitter.com/0eF5PXhJMx
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 24, 2022
ED: Keep in mind that in breaking stories such as this one, initial reports are frequently mistaken, incorrect, or simply false. We will update this post as more more information becomes available.
