UVALDE, Texas — Fourteen children and one teacher were killed in a shooting at a Texas elementary school Tuesday, and the 18-year-old gunman was dead, Gov. Greg Abbott said Abbott said a local man opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, about 85 miles west of San Antonio.
“He shot and killed, horrifically, incomprehensibly, 14 students and killed a teacher,” said the governor.
The gunman was a resident of the community and 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.Uvalde CISD early Tuesday afternoon reported the active shooter at Robb Elementary. The elementary only has 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students, with approximately 600 students in total.
The Uvalde Police Department at 1:06 p.m. reported it had taken the suspect into custody.
Citing the school district, police reported it had set a reunification center up at Willie DeLeon Civic Center.
Uvalde Memorial said the immediate family of those students injured are to report to the cafeteria on the second floor of the hospital and that staff members will be in constant communication with them. If you are not an immediate family, you are asked to stay away from the hospital.
According to University Health in San Antonio, two patients from the shooting, one child and one adult, are being treated at the hospital. They are currently being evaluated and their condition is unknown. The adult is reported to be a 66-year-old woman.
Uvalde is home to about 16,000 people and is the seat of government for Uvalde County. The town is about 75 miles from the border with Mexico. Robb Elementary is in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes. There is a funeral home across the street from the school.
According to his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, President Biden is receiving regular briefings on the shooting, and will continue to do so.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
