Particulars emerge in killing of 19 kids, 2 academics at Texas elementary faculty

The 19 children and two teachers killed in Tuesday’s elementary school massacre in Texas have been in the identical classroom, the place the gunman “barricaded” himself and fired indiscriminately, a legislation enforcement official mentioned Wednesday.

Those that have been harm within the taking pictures at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde have been additionally injured in that one classroom, Texas Division of Public Security spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez advised CNN.

The shooter, recognized by a number of senior legislation enforcement officers as Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, “was capable of make entry right into a classroom, barricaded himself inside that classroom, and once more, simply started taking pictures, uh, quite a few kids and academics who have been in that classroom, having no regard for human life,” Olivarez mentioned Wednesday on NBC’s “TODAY” present.

He “simply started taking pictures anybody that was in his approach,” he added.

Olivarez, a father, referred to as Ramos a “full, evil particular person.”

Officers who have been first to the scene heard the gunfire and tried to get in however have been met with a barrage of bullets, he mentioned. A few of them have been hit.

Unable to instantly put a cease to the carnage within the classroom, officers labored to evacuate college students and workers from different components of the constructing.

An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Safety Border Patrol Tactical Unit agent and two legislation enforcement officers entered the college whereas the gunman was nonetheless firing, two legislation enforcement sources mentioned.

They have been capable of kill the shooter as he continued to fireplace from behind a barricade, the sources mentioned. A CBP agent was wounded however not fatally.

Many brokers stay in Uvalde and have connections with the college. Each on- and off-duty border patrol personnel arrived on the scene to switch college students to security, a Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson mentioned.

It is unclear what number of college students, workers and legislation enforcement officers have been injured. College Hospital in San Antonio mentioned {that a} 66-year-old lady and a 10-year-old woman listed in important situation Tuesday have been in critical situation Wednesday. A 10-year-old woman stays in good situation, and a 9-year-old woman beforehand listed in truthful situation is now in good situation. The kids’s households are with them, in keeping with the hospital.

Uvalde Memorial Hospital obtained 14 sufferers, 11 of whom have been described as kids ages eight to 10, CEO Tom Nordwick mentioned Tuesday night. 4 have been launched, and two, a male and a feminine, have been useless on arrival, Nordwick mentioned.

Brooke Military Medical Middle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston mentioned that two adults listed in important situation Tuesday have been in critical situation Wednesday.

“Our ideas and prayers are with the sufferers, households and the group of Uvalde,” the ability mentioned in a tweet.

The our bodies of these killed have been faraway from the college, Olivarez mentioned Wednesday. All of their households have been notified.

It is unclear if the shooter focused the college or just unleashed terror there as a result of he had crashed his automotive close by, Olivarez mentioned on “TODAY.” The gunman shot his grandmother, who was hospitalized in important situation, earlier than he drove towards the college.

He crashed the automobile close to Robb Elementary.

He used an AR-style rifle within the taking pictures, Olivarez advised MSNBC. He additionally was carrying at the least a tactical vest, but it surely’s unclear if he was carrying physique armor. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working with investigators, who’re attempting to acquire video from inside the college.

The shooter had no felony historical past and investigators are having bother discovering any hint of buddies, Olivarez added. He had attended highschool within the close-knit group, about 85 miles west of San Antonio.

His grandfather advised ABC News he had no concept his grandson had bought rifles or that they have been in his home.

As a result of the grandfather, 72-year-old Rolando Reyes, is a felon, he can not stay in a home with firearms, in keeping with the information outlet. If he had identified, Reyes would have turned his grandson in, he advised ABC Information.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is predicted to supply an replace Wednesday afternoon on the state’s response to the taking pictures.

Abbott will maintain a information convention at Uvalde Excessive College at 12:30 p.m. native time following a briefing on the taking pictures, his workplace mentioned in a information launch. 

The governor is predicted to be joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Texas Home Speaker Dade Phelan; Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; and different politicians and officers.

Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez; Uvalde Consolidated Unbiased College District Police Chief Pete Arredondo; and Texas Division of Public Security Director Steve McCraw are additionally anticipated to be in attendance.

This can be a creating story. Please verify again for updates.