Texas authorities stated Friday that the gunman who killed 19 youngsters and two academics inside an elementary college mentioned his curiosity in shopping for a gun in private on-line conversations, however backed away from earlier descriptions that he made public threats lower than an hour earlier than the assault.
Gov. Greg Abbott stated Wednesday, a day after the taking pictures, that “the only information that was known in advance was posted by the gunman on Facebook approximately 30 minutes before reaching the school.” Abbott’s declare prompted questions about whether or not expertise corporations may have offered advance warning.
But on Friday, the top of the Texas Department of Public Safety stated the gunman made the threatening feedback in a private message.
“I want to correct something that was said early on in the investigation, that he posted on Facebook publicly that he was going to kill, that he was going to shoot his grandmother and secondly after that that he was going to, that he had shot her and that third he was going to go shoot up a school,” Steven McCraw stated. “That did not happen.”
Facebook had already famous on Wednesday that the threats had been in direct textual content messages, not a public publish.
McCraw didn’t say to whom 18-year-old Salvador Ramos despatched the messages.
McCraw additionally advised reporters Friday that Ramos requested his sister to assist him purchase a gun in September 2021, however that she “flatly refused.” He didn’t say how authorities realized of that request.
McCraw shared information from 4 extra of Ramos’ social media private messages.
In a Feb. 28 four-person chat, McCraw stated “Ramos being a school shooter” was mentioned.
In a March 1 four-person chat, he stated Ramos mentioned shopping for a gun.
In a March 3 four-person chat, one other individual stated “word on the street is that you’re buying a gun.” McCraw stated Ramos replied “Just bought something.”
On March 14, McCraw stated Ramos shared the phrases “10 more days” in a social media publish. Another person requested “Are you going to shoot up a school or something?” McCraw stated.
He stated Ramos replied “no and stop asking dumb questions and you’ll see.”
McCraw didn’t determine any of the opposite individuals included in these discussion groups.
The division didn’t instantly reply to a request Friday for extra element, together with screenshots of the communications talked about in the course of the news convention.
Authorities have stated Ramos legally bought two guns not lengthy earlier than the college assault: an AR-style rifle on May 17 and a second rifle on May 20. He had turned 18 simply days earlier, allowing him to purchase a rifle below federal regulation.
Friday’s briefing got here after authorities spent three days offering usually conflicting and incomplete information about the regulation enforcement response in Uvalde.