At least 19 students and two adults, including a teacher, were shot and killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, according to state officials. The suspect, an 18-year-old male, also reportedly shot his own grandmother before the school slaying.
Department of Public Safety official Sgt. Erick Estrada confirmed the fatalities to CNN on Tuesday evening, hours after local hospitals reported an influx of children with gunshot wounds.
Governor Greg Abbott commented on the shooting earlier in the day, identifying the assailant as Salvador Ramos, who he said “killed horrifically and incomprehensibly.”
Estrada noted that the gunman was also killed in the shooting.
Uvalde police chief Pete Arredondo described the shooting as “a mass casualty incident” that took place around 11:30 am local time. Robb Elementary School has students in grades 2-4.
“I can confirm right now that we have several injuries, adults and students, and we do have some deaths. The suspect is deceased at this point,” Arredondo said, adding that the shooter appears to have acted alone.
Little is currently known about the shooter or his relationship with the school. Uvalde and state police, as well as FBI and ATF agents, are investigating the scene.