Photo: Alamy
The nation mourns the victims of a horrific shooting at a Texas elementary school Tuesday that reportedly left 19 children and two teachers dead, according to the New York Post.
The now-deceased shooter, who has been identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, targeted a single classroom in Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Ramos is believed to have shot his grandmother and crashed his car prior to carrying out his attack on the school.
Ramos was shot and killed after being confronted by an agent from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, according to Fox News. The outlet says two responding law enforcement officers were also wounded by the gunman. They are expected to recover.
After the school shooting, Uvalde School District Superintendent Hal Harrell told the press on Tuesday, “My heart is broken today.”
In a news conference after the incident, Gov. Greg Abbott shared details about the shooter. He said, “It is believed that he abandoned his vehicle, then entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun, and he may have also had a rifle.” According to Fox News, Abbott indicated the shooter acted alone.
The deadly Texas school shooting comes just 10 days after a mass shooting took place at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The mass shooting in Buffalo claimed the lives of 10 people and devastated the community. Now, the nation is once again shaken by senseless violence.
According to NPR, Tuesday’s shooting at an elementary school in the state of Texas is the 27th school shooting this year alone.
With an increase in school shootings, school districts across the nation are already announcing increased security in order to prevent more tragedies like Uvalde.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has released a statement on the Texas shooting, saying, “FBI and ATF agents have responded to the scene, and the Justice Department is committed to providing our full support to our law enforcement partners on the ground in Texas and to the Uvalde community.”
As law enforcement investigates the incident, leaders across the nation have united to express their support for the people of Uvalde. Responding to the terrible act of violence Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted, “We’ve seen too many of these shootings. No parent should have to bear the pain of burying their child. We need to come together, as one nation, and support Uvalde as they try to heal from this devastating loss.”
President Donald Trump also released a statement on the tragedy.
“So hard to think or report about anything else after watching the Texas school ‘massacre’ which took place yesterday,” he said. “Thank you to the great wisdom and bravery of our Law Enforcement Professionals, and condolences to all who are suffering so gravely with the loss of those incredible souls so close to you.”
The 45th president continued, “No words can express the sorrow and grief of this absolutely horrible event. It is a moment in time which will never be forgotten!”
