In an update shared by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, he has confirmed that an 18-year-old gunman killed 14 students and one teacher. According to ABC 13, the gunman’s grandmother was at the school during the shooting.
While initial reports claimed the shooting took place off campus, Abbott says the gunman did enter the school and continue shooting after shooting his grandmother.
Texas Governor Confirms 14 Students and 1 Teacher Killed During Elementary School Shooting
The 18-year-old suspect, now identified as Salvador Ramos, was a student at Uvalde High School. He was killed at the scene. “He shot and killed horrifically and incomprehensibly 14 students and killed a teacher,” Abbott said during an unrelated press briefing, ABC 13 reports.
“It’s believed that he abandoned his vehicle and entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun and he may have also had a rifle, but that is not yet confirmed according to my most recent report,” Abbott continued, according to CNN.
The governor did not say anything further about the grandmother’s condition or her affiliation with the school. Reports have since confirmed that grandmother has also died. As Mamas Uncut previously reported, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin called the event “a very bad situation” in a text message to ABC News.
“At this point, the investigation is leading to tell us that the suspect did act alone during this heinous crime,” said Pete Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District.
McLaughlin continued telling ABC News that his office’s priority is notifying parents before talking with news organizations. The school district first notified the public of the shooting on Twitter.
“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 rest of the district is under a Secure Status.”
RELATED: Texas Shooting Outside Elementary School Leaves More than a Dozen Children Injured
It remains unclear why the children were outside of the elementary school as officials said Robb Elementary School was under lockdown during the shooting, which took place off campus, ABC News reports. It’s unclear exactly when the shooting started, but parents were informed just after 2 p.m. that their children were transported to the Sgt. Willie Deleon Civic Center.
A motive as to why the teenager targeted Robb Elementary School has not been reported. The district’s last day of school is Thursday. Mamas Uncut will continue to share new information as it becomes available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected.
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