Individuals collect at Robb Elementary Faculty, the scene of a mass capturing in Uvalde, Texas, Could 25, 2022.
Nuri Vallbona | Reuters
The 19 children and two teachers killed in Tuesday’s elementary school massacre in Texas have been in the identical classroom, the place the gunman — who seems to have focused the varsity — “barricaded” himself and fired indiscriminately, legislation enforcement officers stated Wednesday.
Those that have been damage within the capturing at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde have been additionally injured in that one classroom, Texas Division of Public Security spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez advised CNN.
The shooter, recognized by a number of senior legislation enforcement officers as Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, “was in a position to make entry right into a classroom, barricaded himself inside that classroom, and once more, simply started capturing, quite a few youngsters and lecturers who have been in that classroom, having no regard for human life,” Olivarez stated Wednesday on NBC’s “TODAY” present.
He “simply started capturing anybody that was in his manner,” he added.
Olivarez, a father, referred to as Ramos a “full, evil individual.”
Officers who have been first to the scene heard the gunfire and tried to get in however have been met with a barrage of bullets, he stated. A few of them have been hit.
Unable to instantly put a cease to the carnage within the classroom, officers labored to evacuate college students and workers from different components of the constructing.
Off-duty border patrol agent concerned in killing gunman, sources say
An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Safety Border Patrol Tactical Unit agent and two legislation enforcement officers entered the varsity whereas the gunman was nonetheless firing, two legislation enforcement sources stated.
They have been in a position to kill the shooter as he continued to fireside from behind a barricade, the sources stated. A CBP agent was wounded however not fatally.
Many brokers reside in Uvalde and have connections with the varsity. Each on- and off-duty border patrol personnel arrived on the scene to switch college students to security, a Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson stated.
It is unclear what number of college students, workers and legislation enforcement officers have been injured. College Hospital in San Antonio stated {that a} 66-year-old lady and a 10-year-old woman listed in crucial situation Tuesday have been in critical situation Wednesday. A ten-year-old woman stays in good situation, and a 9-year-old woman beforehand listed in truthful situation is now in good situation. The kids’s households are with them, based on the hospital.
Uvalde Memorial Hospital obtained 14 sufferers, 11 of whom have been described as youngsters ages 8 to 10, CEO Tom Nordwick stated Tuesday night. 4 have been launched, and two, a male and a feminine, have been lifeless on arrival, Nordwick stated.
Brooke Military Medical Middle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston stated that two adults listed in crucial situation Tuesday have been in critical situation Wednesday.
“Our ideas and prayers are with the sufferers, households and the neighborhood of Uvalde,” the power stated in a tweet.
On this aerial view, legislation enforcement works on scene at Robb Elementary Faculty the place a minimum of 21 individuals have been killed yesterday, together with 19 youngsters, on Could 25, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.
Jordan Vonderhaar | Getty Photos
The our bodies of these killed have been faraway from the varsity, Olivarez stated Wednesday. All of their households have been notified.
Shooter seems to have focused college, however motive is unclear
The gunman shot his grandmother, who was hospitalized in crucial situation, earlier than he drove towards the varsity.
He crashed the automobile close to Robb Elementary, however a number of senior native and federal legislation enforcement officers briefed by Texas authorities stated the violence was not carried out on a whim. The varsity seems to have been focused, they stated.
The shooter legally owned two AR-15 model lengthy rifles, a Smith & Wesson M&P15 and a Daniel Protection DDM4 V7. He left one behind and carried one other into the varsity.
He additionally was sporting a minimum of a tactical vest, nevertheless it’s unclear if he was sporting physique armor, Olivarez advised MSNBC. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working with investigators, who’re attempting to acquire video from inside the varsity.
The shooter had no grownup legal historical past and investigators are having bother discovering any hint of associates, Olivarez added. He bought the rifles shortly after his birthday, officers stated.
He had attended highschool within the close-knit neighborhood, about 85 miles west of San Antonio.
Juan Alvarez, 62, who has been in a relationship with the shooter’s mom for a couple of 12 months and lives together with her, stated Ramos left the house about two months in the past after he and his mother had an intense argument after she disconnected the Wi-Fi. The 2 would typically battle, he stated.
“He was form of a bizarre one. I by no means received together with him. I by no means socialized with him. He would not discuss to no person,” Alvarez stated. “Whenever you attempt to discuss to him he’d simply sit there and stroll away.”
The shooter’s grandfather advised ABC News he had no concept his grandson had bought rifles or that they have been in his home.
As a result of the grandfather, 72-year-old Rolando Reyes, is a felon, he can’t reside in a home with firearms, based on the information outlet. If he had recognized, Reyes would have turned his grandson in, he advised ABC Information.
Third grader, 4 fourth graders, 2 lecturers amongst victims
Eva Mireles, who taught fourth grade, had been an educator for 17 years, according to her profile at Robb Elementary. Mireles was “attempting to guard her college students” from the gunman, a relative told The New York Times.
Mireles’ co-teacher, Irma Garcia, was killed, based on her son, Christian Garcia. Irma Garcia taught on the college for 23 years, based on her college profile.
Four fourth-graders were also among the dead, family confirmed to information retailers.
Uziyah Garcia was recognized by his aunt, Nikki Cross, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported.
Xavier Lopez, 10, had been at an awards ceremony along with his mom hours earlier than the capturing, KSAT reported.
The daddy of Amerie Jo Garza recognized her to NBC Information as one of many victims. She was about to complete fourth grade, based on KSAT.
Amerie Jo was shot dialing 911 in an effort to assist her classmates, her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, told The Daily Beast.
Christopher Salazar confirmed to The Washington Post his nephew, Jose Flores Jr., 10, was additionally killed. He was a fourth grader at Robb Elementary Faculty who cherished to play baseball, based on Salazar.
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, a 3rd grade scholar was killed, relations advised KHOU of Houston.
“I’ll miss you child Jose, i nonetheless cannot imagine this occurred my coronary heart is damaged simply listening to them inform us your gone,” Salazar wrote in a Facebook post.
The other children who have been killed weren’t instantly recognized.
Abbott presents replace on capturing
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott supplied an replace Wednesday afternoon on the state’s response to the capturing.
Abbott held a information convention at Uvalde Excessive Faculty at 12:30 p.m. native time following a briefing on the capturing.Â
The governor was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Texas Home Speaker Dade Phelan; Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; and different politicians and officers.
Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez; Uvalde Consolidated Unbiased Faculty District Police Chief Pete Arredondo; and Texas Division of Public Security Director Steve McCraw have been additionally in attendance.
This can be a creating story. Please examine again for updates.