At least 18 students and a teacher were killed on Tuesday after a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, according to Gov. Greg Abbott.
The governor said the 18-year-old suspect, Salvador Romas, is also dead. “It is believed that responding officers killed him,” Abbott said. Romas allegedly also shot his grandmother before entering the school. Her condition is unknown.
“He shot and killed horrifically and incomprehensibly 14 students and killed a teacher,” Abbott said, adding that two police officers were shot but are in stable condition.
According to Pete Arredondo, chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, “The investigation is leading to tell us that the suspect did act alone during this heinous crime.”
The shooter allegedly had a handgun and possibly a rifle, Gov. Abbott said. In a statement, Uvalde Medical Hospital said it was treating 15 students in its emergency department following the shooting. San Antonio hospital University Health said it had two patients from the incident — a child and an adult woman, who is in critical condition. The condition of the child is unknown. The Children’s Hospital in San Antonio said it is also treating patients from the shooting.
JUST IN: Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on the school shooting in Uvalde. INFO: https://t.co/rhVwftZh2Y pic.twitter.com/4JSRU5FQlR
— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) May 24, 2022
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Twitter that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and will speak to the nation when he arrives back at the White House.
“His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event,” Jean-Pierre wrote on Twitter.
His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event, and he will speak this evening when he arrives back at the White House.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) May 24, 2022
Texas Sen. John Cornyn announced that he will return to his home state as soon as tonight.