The 19 kids and two academics killed in Tuesday’s elementary faculty bloodbath in Texas were in the identical classroom, the place the gunman “barricaded” himself and fired indiscriminately, a regulation enforcement official mentioned Wednesday.
Those who were damage in the taking pictures at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde were additionally injured in that one classroom, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez informed CNN.
The shooter, recognized by a number of senior regulation enforcement officers as Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, “was able to make entry into a classroom, barricaded himself inside that classroom, and again, just began shooting, uh, numerous children and teachers who were in that classroom, having no regard for human life,” Olivarez mentioned Wednesday on NBC’s “TODAY” present.
He “just began shooting anyone that was in his way,” he added.
Olivarez, a father, known as Ramos a “complete, evil person.”
Officers who were first to the scene heard the gunfire and tried to get in however were met with a barrage of bullets, he mentioned. Some of them were hit.
Unable to right away put a cease to the carnage in the classroom, officers labored to evacuate college students and workers from different components of the constructing.
Off-duty border patrol agent concerned in killing gunman, sources say
An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Tactical Unit agent and two regulation enforcement officers entered the varsity whereas the gunman was nonetheless firing, two regulation enforcement sources mentioned.
They were in a position to 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 reside in Uvalde and have connections with the varsity. Both on- and off-duty border patrol personnel arrived on the scene to switch college students to security, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson mentioned.
It’s unclear what number of college students, workers and regulation enforcement officers were injured. University Hospital in San Antonio mentioned {that a} 66-year-old girl and a 10-year-old woman listed in vital situation Tuesday were in severe situation Wednesday. A ten-year-old woman stays in good situation, and a 9-year-old woman beforehand listed in honest situation is now in good situation. The kids’s households are with them, in accordance with the hospital.
Uvalde Memorial Hospital acquired 14 sufferers, 11 of whom were described as kids ages 8 to 10, CEO Tom Nordwick mentioned Tuesday night. Four have been launched, and two, a male and a feminine, were useless on arrival, Nordwick mentioned.
Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston mentioned that two adults listed in vital situation Tuesday were in severe situation Wednesday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the patients, families and the community of Uvalde,” the power mentioned in a tweet.
The our bodies of these killed have been faraway from the varsity, Olivarez mentioned Wednesday. All of their households have been notified.
Shooter used AR-style rifle, motive stays unclear
It’s unclear if the shooter focused the varsity or just unleashed terror there as a result of he had crashed his automobile close by, Olivarez mentioned on “TODAY.” The gunman shot his grandmother, who was hospitalized in vital situation, earlier than he drove towards the varsity.
He crashed the car close to Robb Elementary.
He used an AR-style rifle in the taking pictures, Olivarez informed MSNBC. He additionally was carrying at the very 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 making an attempt to acquire video from inside the varsity.
The shooter had no legal historical past and investigators are having hassle discovering any hint of associates, Olivarez added. He had attended highschool in the close-knit neighborhood, about 85 miles west of San Antonio.
His grandfather informed ABC News he had no thought his grandson had bought rifles or that they were in his home.
Because the grandfather, 72-year-old Rolando Reyes, is a felon, he can’t reside in a home with firearms, in accordance with the news outlet. If he had recognized, Reyes would have turned his grandson in, he informed ABC News.
Abbott to supply replace on taking pictures
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is anticipated to supply an replace Wednesday afternoon on the state’s response to the taking pictures.
Abbott will maintain a news convention at Uvalde High School at 12:30 p.m. native time following a briefing on the taking pictures, his workplace mentioned in a news launch.
The governor is anticipated to be joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan; Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; and different politicians and officers.
Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez; Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo; and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw are additionally anticipated to be in attendance.
This is a growing story. Please test again for updates.