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19 students, 2 adults dead after shooting at Texas elementary school: Gov. Abbott

Texas School-Shooting
Uvalde, TX
Posted at 1:09 PM, May 24, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-25 01:16:08-04

UVALDE, TX — Officials have confirmed that 19 students and two adults are dead after a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The 18-year-old suspect, a student at Uvalde High School, is also dead, he said.

"He shot and killed horrifically and incomprehensibly 14 students and killed a teacher," Abbott said during an unrelated press briefing.

The suspect also allegedly shot and killed his grandmother before entering the school and again opening fire.

The shooter was identified by law enforcement sources and the governor as Salvador Ramos. Authorities have recovered an AR-15-style rifle and numerous magazines, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.

Abbott said the shooter had a handgun and also possibly a rifle.

President Joe Biden addressed the nation following the deadly shooting at a Texas school. Watch his comments in the player below.

Uvalde Memorial Hospital had said 15 students were being treated in the hospital's emergency department in the wake of the incident. Two patients were transferred to San Antonio for treatment, while a third was pending transfer, the hospital said. A 45-year-old was also hospitalized after getting grazed by a bullet, the hospital said.

Two responding police officers were among those injured, Abbott said. They are expected to survive, he said.

University Health in San Antonio said it had two patients from the shooting incident -- a 66-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl -- both in critical condition.

Two adult victims of the shooting, both in critical condition, are also being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to an Army official.

The Children's Hospital of San Antonio said it has also received patients from the shooting.

A number of the shooting victims are children of Customs and Border Patrol agents, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin did not confirm casualties, but told ABC News in a text message that "this is a very bad situation." He said the office is trying to contact parents before releasing any information.

Earlier, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District had said a shooter was located at Robb Elementary School and asked people to stay away from the area.

"There is an active shooter at Robb Elementary," the school district said on Twitter. "Law enforcement is on site. Your cooperation is needed at this time by not visiting the campus. As soon as more information is gathered it will be shared."

A school official initially told ABC News that the shooting took place off campus, and that Robb Elementary School was under lockdown.

The shooting occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time, police said.

The school informed parents shortly after 2 p.m. local time that students had been transported to the Sgt. Willie Deleon Civic Center, the reunification site, and could be picked up.

Uvalde, Texas, is located about 90 minutes west of San Antonio.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office and San Antonio Police Department are sending aid, and the FBI is responding.

The Houston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also said it is assisting in the investigation.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been briefed on the situation and the agency "is actively coordinating with federal, state, and local partners," a spokesperson said. Customs and Border Protection officials in the area also responded to the scene.

ABC News' Pierre Thomas, Luke Barr, Aaron Katersky and Mireya Villarreal contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.