School shooting in Texas: The shooter kills 18 students and a teacher at an elementary school

Robb Elementary in Uvalde City, Texas, confirmed there was an “active gunman” at the school, which went into lockdown just before noon on Tuesday

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Texas school shooting: Armed cops respond to Uvalde crime scene

At least 19 people have been killed after an “active gunman” opened fire on a Texas elementary school.

Robb Elementary School went into lockdown around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday after gunshots were heard in Uvalde, United States, officials said.

The attacker is said to have shot at the elementary school, which normally educates children between the ages of five and 11 in the United States, after exchanging gunfire with border guards and barricading himself inside the building.

Governor Greg Abbott initially said 14 students and a teacher were dead and more than a dozen people were injured in the horrific incident.

Police updated the death toll Tuesday night and announced that four other children were among the 18 dead.

Locals identified the gunman as Salvador Ramos, who was also reported to have shot his grandmother.

Mr Abbott said: “He is believed to have exited his vehicle and entered Robb Primary School in Uvalde with a pistol and may also have had a rifle, but that is not yet confirmed according to my most recent report.

“He shot 14 students and killed a teacher in a horrific, incomprehensible manner.”

Uvalde Police Department confirmed on Facebook that the attacker was in police custody just after 1pm.

Multiple sources have since claimed that the 18-year-old suspect was killed by responding officers.

It comes after the school reported there was an “active shooter” in the area.

Uvalde Memorial Hospital confirmed two children were admitted dead on arrival and several others were being treated.

About 14 students and a man in his 40s were treated by emergency workers at local hospitals for either gunshot wounds or “something related to the incident”.

A 66-year-old woman was also left in critical condition.

An FBI spokesman said the agency was at the scene.

“At this point it is too early to determine the extent of our involvement; However, rest assured the FBI is on the scene,” Special Agent Carmen Portillo said.

A police bus used for “mass sacrifice” events arrived at Uvalde Memorial Hospital, where two children have been confirmed dead and several others, including at least one adult, are being treated for injuries.

Robb Elementary School, which enrolls 600 students ages five to 11, is located about 60 miles east of the Mexico border and about 80 miles west of San Antonio.

The area has a predominantly Hispanic population, leading to speculation that the school has been attacked based on race.

The tragedy came just weeks after another teenage gunman opened fire at a New York supermarket, killing ten when aiming at African Americans.

Tuesday’s attack is the deadliest shooting since Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in February 2018.

The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District confirmed a shooter was at Robb Elementary School and asked people to avoid the area.

“There is one active shooter at Robb Elementary,” a spokesman said on Twitter. The police are on site.

“Your cooperation is required at this time by not visiting campus. As more information is gathered, it will be shared.”

A school representative previously clarified that the shooting took place off campus, according to local reports.

Despite dozens of children being murdered, US politicians have shamefully refused to act.

Active shooter lockdown practice is now a staple of the school curriculum, from elementary through high school.

The 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut shocked Americans.

Twenty of the 26 victims of this attack, perpetrated by a 20-year-old, were between the ages of five and six.

A 2020 report by the US Government Accountability Office found that about two-thirds of all school shootings occur at the high school level, and that elementary school shootings are most commonly accidental.

As politicians began to offer their usual “thoughts and prayers,” Americans once again began to express their disgust at yet another school massacre.

They were joined by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Democrat, who has repeatedly called for tougher gun safety laws, has criticized Republicans.

“Another shooting,” he tweeted.

“And the GOP [Grand Old Party] won’t do anything about it. Who the hell are we if we can’t protect our children?”

The National Rifle Association annual meeting is scheduled to be held just 270 miles from the school on Friday.

Gun nut is scheduled to attend the Houston event.

Former President Donald Trump, Governor Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz are among those set to speak at the gathering.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting while flying back from Japan.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said, “His prayers are with the families affected by this terrible event and he will speak tonight when he arrives back at the White House.”

The attack happened just two days before school dropped out for holidays.