19 students, 2 adults dead in horror school shooting at Robb Elementary in Texas, victims identified
Family members of the children caught in the devastating school shooting that killed 19 children and two adults have described the trauma student witnessed.
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The death toll for the “horrific … incomprehensible” shooting which occurred at a primary school in Texas has increased to 19 children and two adults, along with the gunman.
The deaths were shared by Texas state senator Roland Gutierre in a private briefing to Texas police officials and reported by CNN.
On Tuesday morning (local time), 18-year-old local high school student Salvador Ramos opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The school is about 96km east of the southern border of Mexico and about 128km west of San Antonio.
“He shot and killed horrifically … incomprehensibly, 14 students and killed a teacher,” said the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, before the additional deaths were reported.
“It’s believed that he abandoned his vehicle and entered 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.”
‘She saw blood everywhere:’ Family describe shooting carnage
The aunt of three children who attended the school has detailed the trauma witnessed by students who were present during the shooting.
Around 600 students attend the Texan school, who are enrolled in years two to four. CNN’s Ed Lavandera reported that the victims were aged between seven and 11.
Speaking to The Washington Post, Erika Escamilla, 26 relayed the events described by her 10-year-old niece.
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According to the child, the attack occurred as the children came in from recess, when they heard a man “cursing and yelling, and then gunshots”.
The girl’s teacher guided the students into a classroom where they were told to get down. The teacher’s also “turned off the airconditioning and the lights, and started to cover the windows with paper”.
However it wasn’t until the children were evacuated that they saw the horrific scene around them. It’s also unknown if the gunman entered the classroom, or shot at it directly.
“She’s traumatised. She said she felt like she was having a heart attack,” Ms Escamilla said. “She saw blood everywhere.”
One nine-year-old boy who was also caught up in the shooting told his grandmother that the gunshots “sounded like fireworks”.
“He goes, ‘It sounded like fireworks, Grandma.’ It was in his classroom,” she told KENS 5.
She said that her grandson was frightened after he was shot in the leg at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde but has already been released from the hospital.
He was feeling well enough to snap a photo with the police officers who walked him out, said the woman, who was not named.
Sharing insight into the gunman’s character, the manager of US fast food chain Wendys - where Ramos worked - has described him as someone who largely “kept to himself”. However, the chain’s evening manager, Adrian Mendes said they didn’t work together closely and were on different shifts.
“He felt like the quiet type, the one who doesn’t say much. He didn’t really socialise with the other employees,” he said.
“He just worked, got paid, and came in to get his check.”
First victims identified
44-year-old teacher Eva Mireles has been identified as the first victim of the Robb Elementary School shooting.
The special education teacher and mum-of-one had taught at the school for at least five years. She was also married to a police officer at the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, Ruben Ruiz.
Speaking to ABC reporter Cecilia Vega., Ms Mireles’ aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, said she was enraged at Texas’ lax gun laws.
“I’m furious that these shootings continue. These children are innocent, rifles should not be easily available to all,” she said.
The parents of a child taught by Ms Mireles grieved her loss on Twitter.
“My daughter’s beautiful teacher was the teacher who was killed in Uvalde, TX. Eva (Ms Mireles) taught Gabby in elementary school,” she tweeted.
“She was a beautiful person & dedicated teacher. She believed in Gabby & went above & beyond to teach her as you can see below. There are no words.”
My daughter’s beautiful teacher was the teacher who was killed in Uvalde, TX. Eva (Ms Mireles) taught Gabby in elementary school. She was a beautiful person & dedicated teacher. She believed in Gabby & went above & beyond to teach her as you can see below. There are no words. pic.twitter.com/qMlVoVEUrY
— Audrey (@audreymg0928) May 24, 2022
The parents of 10-year-old student Xavier Lopez also confirmed that their son died in the shooting. The child was a fourth grader at Robb Elementary School. ABC reporter, Reena Roy said his cousin and mother had reportedly only attended an award ceremony for the child in the two hours before the shooting.
Meanwhile the parents of 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez have continued to search for their missing daughter.
The child’s mum has shared a photo of her missing daughter on Facebook. Her post has since been shared more than 1300 times on the social media platform.
"Plzs help me find Annabell Rodriguez we still haven’t gotten any word,” she wrote in her status.
Sharing a photo of Annabell, she wrote: “I love you baby! Hoping we find you and that wherever you are that you are safe!! Prayers for all parents and children..”
Annabell’s father also shared a photo of his daughter with the Texas Rangers in an attempt to locate the child, Fox News reports.
NEW: The father of 10-year-old Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez tells us his daughter is missing following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, where she is a student. He provided her photo to Texas Rangers. Many parents going through this tonight. @FoxNewspic.twitter.com/cVBF0aE4EM
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 24, 2022
Shooter received guns after birthday
As it stands, how Ramos acquired the weapons – a handgun and possibly a rifle – and his motives are unknown, said Mr Abbott.
Police Chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, Pete Arredondo also confirmed that authorities are not “actively looking for another individual or any other suspects in this case”.
According to two sources connected to the investigation the shooter received the weapons used in the attack shortly after his 18th birthday, The Washington Postreports.
In the US, some states (including Texas) have no minimum age for the ownership of a long gun (like a rifle), while federal law prohibits children under the age of 18 from owning a handgun.
In Texas, there are no other laws surrounding the possession of a firearm, regardless of age.
Shooter’s social media post four days before shooting
According to social media posts, Ramos shared images of the weapons and ammunition in the four days before the shooting.
In one of the photos, he appears to tag a woman unknown to him and then attempts to have a conversation with her over Instagram messages.
Sharing a series of messages between her and Ramos from the morning of the attack, he hints that he has “a secret” he wants to share.
His last message to her is: “Ima air out”.
In a series of Instagram stories, the woman said Ramos was a stranger and the interaction left her feeling scared and uncomfortable.
“He’s a stranger, I know nothing about him. He decided to tag me in his gun post. I’m so sorry for the victims and their families, I really don’t know what to say,” she wrote in a now-deleted Instagram story.
“The only reason I responded to him was because I was afraid of him. I wish I stayed awake to at least try to convince him to not commit his crime. I didn’t know.”
Ramos’ Instagram account has since been removed from the social media platform.
Shooter killed his grandma before school attack
Prior to the school shooting, Ramos shot his grandmother before fleeing the scene.
Texan State Senator Roland Gutierrez confirmed the news to CNN and said she was airlifted to San Antonio.
“(She) is still holding on,” he said.
“This young man shot his grandmother and fled that scene from that incident.”
Comments from Mr Abbott earlier stated that this occurred before the school shooting.
“It is being reported that the subject shot his grandmother right before he went into the school. I have no further information about the connection between those two shootings,” he said.
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.
— Uvalde CISD (@Uvalde_CISD) May 24, 2022
The rest of the district is under a Secure Status.
Students were placed into lockdown about 11.43am local time, after gunshots were heard in the area.
Police arrived at the school at 1.06pm, the Uvalde Police Department confirmed on Facebook.
One video taken from the school of the suspected shooter showed a figure dressed in black and wielding a weapon, running into a building.
The footage was shared by a local Uvalde woman on Facebook.
Where is our backbone? Biden’s plea to the US
US President Joe Biden has made a push for stricter gun laws in light of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting. In response to the attack, the US flag at the White House has been flown at half-staff as a tribute to the victims.
“Beautiful innocent, second, third, fourth graders and how many scores of little children who witnessed what happened, see their friends die, as if they’re in a battlefield, for God’s sake?” he said in an address to the nation.
“The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is mad.
“I am sick and tired. We have to act.”
President Biden just spoke with Governor Abbott to offer any and all assistance he needs in the wake of the horrific shooting in Uvalde, TX. pic.twitter.com/u3yMHFtcJJ
— Kate Bedingfield (@WHCommsDir) May 24, 2022
Returning from his meeting with Quad leaders from Toyko, he asked Americans to consider why mass shootings “rarely happen anywhere else in the world,” but do in the US.
Mr Biden also served as Vice President during the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in which a 20-year-old gunman killed 26 victims, including 20 children aged between six and seven.
While the Obama administration attempted to pass gun control laws which would encourage stricter background checks on gun purchases and the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, the legislation was culled by the Senate.
“(Other countries) have mental health problems, they have domestic disputes, the have people who are also lost,” said Mr Biden.
“These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world.
“Where in god’s name is our backbone? It’s time to turn this pain into action.”
Flag being lowered at the White House pic.twitter.com/N3nMCe5SYg
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) May 24, 2022
Number of other injuries remains unknown
It is understood that 13 children arrived for treatment at Uvalde Memorial Hospital and two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
University Health, in San Antonio, said they received two other patients from the shooting, a 10-year-old girl and a 66-year-old woman. Both are listed in a critical condition.
According to ABC, two additional adult victims were being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
“We don’t have a condition to release at this time,” a statement from the hospital told the outlet.
All students have been accounted for and a reunification site has been set up at a nearby community hall.
As a result of the shooting, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District in Texas confirmed they would be cancelling the rest of the school year, as well as all district and campus activities, after-school programs, and events.
Grief counselling and support will also be made available for students.
“The school year’s done. We will have no school tomorrow or Thursday. All activities are cancelled throughout the district,” said the superintendent of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, Dr Hal Harrell.
Biden briefed on attack
US President Joe Biden has also been briefed about the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed in a tweet.
Mr Biden is slated to address the United States upon his return from a meeting with Quad leaders in Tokyo.
“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,” she tweeted.
.@SecMayorkas has been briefed on the shooting in #Uvalde, Texas. @CBP immediately responded to the scene to provide support, including medical aid. DHS is actively coordinating with federal, state, and local partners, and will continue to provide the Department’s full support.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 24, 2022
His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event, and he will speak this evening when he arrives back at the White House.”
Homeland security has also been briefed about the shooting.
More to come
More Coverage
Originally published as 19 students, 2 adults dead in horror school shooting at Robb Elementary in Texas, victims identified
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