UVALDE, Texas (Talk1370.com) -- Officials say 19 elementary school students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting in the south Hill Country town of Uvalde on Tuesday.
The shooter, identified by officials as 18-year old Salvador Ramos, was shot and killed by law enforcement. Several other victims, both students and adults, were being treated for injuries. Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez said the suspect also shot several law enforcement officers before he was killed.
The shooting happened at Uvalde CISD's Robb Elementary, beginning just before 11:45 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Officials say that Ramos, a student at Uvalde High School, was involved in a family disturbance earlier Tuesday, where he reportedly shot his grandmother. Officials could not confirm her condition Tuesday evening.
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After shooting his grandmother, Ramos reportedly fled, crashing his vehicle near the elementary school and abandoning it, before running into the school and shooting anyone in his way. Authorities said he was wearing body armor, and believe he acted alone.
A visibly emotional President Biden addressed the nation from the White House on Tuesday, calling for action. “When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby," said Biden.
Flags have been ordered to half-staff across the country as a mark of respect for the victims of the shooting, through sunset on Saturday.
Robb Elementary has an enrollment of just under 600 students, according to district officials. The school houses students in second, third, and fourth grades.
"Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde," said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a statement. "Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering."
Abbott said DPS and the Texas Rangers will work with local law enforcement to fully investigate the shooting, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management will provide local officials with all of the resources necessary to respond to the tragedy.
Tuesday's shooting is the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, and the third deadliest school shooting in U.S. history - joining a list that includes the Virginia Tech and Newtown shootings.
Officials at Uvalde Memorial Hopsital said two individuals that arrived at the
hospital were deceased on arrival. It wasn't immediately clear if they were students or adults. The hospital said it had also been caring for "several students" in its emergency room, with no further details on their conditions.
Two patients, a 66-year old woman and a 10-year old girl, were also transported to San Antonio's University Hospital. Both were said to be in critical condition Tuesday afternoon. Officials at Brooke Army Medical Center said they also received two patients transported from the scene, both in critical condition.
District officials said all of its campuses were placed into a lockdown state following the shooting.
District officials were working to reunite students with parents, while asking parents to avoid coming to the campus for the time being.
Uvalde is about 85 miles west of San Antonio and 70 miles east of Del Rio and the U.S.-Mexico border, with a population of more than 16,000.