According to pbs.org, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 19 children as he went from classroom to classroom, officials said, in the latest gruesome moment for a country scarred by a string of massacres. The attacker was killed by law enforcement.
The death toll also included two adults, authorities said. Gov. Greg Abbott said one of the two was a teacher.
The assault at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago.
“My heart is broken today,” said Hal Harrell, the school district superintendent, announcing that all school activities were canceled until further notice. “We’re a small community, and we’re going to need your prayers to get through this.”
The gunman, who was wearing body armor, crashed his car outside the school before going inside, Sgt. Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN.
He killed his grandmother before heading to the school with two military-style rifles he had purchased on his birthday, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police.
“That was the first thing he did on his 18th birthday,” he said.
Officials did not immediately reveal a motive, but the governor identified the assailant as Salvador Ramos and said he was a resident of the community about 85 miles (135 kilometers) west of San Antonio.
Ramos had hinted on social media that an attack could be coming, Gutierrez said, noting that “he suggested the kids should watch out.”
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Imagining this horrific incident taking place is so disheartening. Tears roll down the face of many. To think of sending your kid off to elementary school and something like this were to happen; it’s beyond heartbreaking.
To think of what these kids experienced while the shooter spent 80 minutes inside of classrooms and hallways. I can’t imagine the level of fear they felt. I can’t imagine how the teachers felt trying to protect the kids.
It was confirmed that the husband of one of the teachers died of a heart attack a few days later. They were high school sweethearts and friends and family say he passed of a broken heart.
Much of the UVALDE, Texas community are in rage and upset for how the police handled the situation. UVALDE Police admit that they made the wrong call by waiting and not entering the campus right away.
Student had only 2 days of school left. My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this terrible event.