UVALDE, Texas – A gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde on Tuesday, killing 14 students and one teacher, Gov. Greg Abbott said. The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Romas, was also killed, Abbott said. Romas was reportedly a student at Uvalde High School or was a former student, Abbott said. Uvalde Police Chief Pete Arredondo said it appears that Romas acted alone.
Abbott said Romas shot his grandmother before he went on the shooting rampage around 11:30 a.m. at Robb Elementary School, where second through fourth graders attend. Romas entered the school with a handgun, and possibly a rifle, and opened fire, Abbott said. He said the shooter was likely killed by responding officers but that the events were still being investigated.
Two law enforcement officers were shot but are expected to be OK, Abbott said.
University Health officials said a 10-year-old girl and a 66-year-old woman were being treated at University Hospital and were in critical condition.
“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde,” Abbott said. “Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering. We thank the courageous first responders who worked to finally secure Robb Elementary School. I have instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to fully investigate this crime. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is charged with providing local officials all resources necessary to respond to this tragedy as the State of Texas works to ensure the community has what it needs to heal.”
President Joe Biden is expected to address the shooting Wednesday night, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre said.
“President Biden has been briefed on the horrific news of the elementary school shooting in Texas and will continue to be briefed regularly as information becomes available. His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event,” she said.
Arredondo said that families of the victims were being notified.
The shooting was the deadliest at a school in Texas history and occurred four years after a gunman fatally shot 10 people at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area, the Associated Press reported.
A news conference on what police know about the shooting in the Hill Country community located about 85 miles west of San Antonio is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Hospital officials said several students are being treated in the emergency room. Immediate family members of the injured students are asked to report to the hospital cafeteria on the second floor. UMH staff will keep in constant contact with those family members. Hospital officials ask residents who are not immediate family members to stay away from the hospital.
Students were evacuated to Willie DeLeon Civic Center and that parents are now allowed to pick up their children there.
The district canceled all school activities.
The San Antonio Police Department has sent resources to the school and is standing by to assist as further needed, Police Chief William McManus said.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county was also sending help to the grief-stricken community.
“It is with profound grief and broken hearts that we learn about the news coming our way this afternoon. We stand united with the community in Uvalde and offer our assistance. We also mourn with them over the lives of those children and adults lost to violence. Bexar County is sending personnel and material from the Office of Emergency Management, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and University Hospital to support the ongoing operation,” Wolff said.
Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
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