Authorities say 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, armed with an AR-15-style weapon, stormed a classroom, barricaded himself inside and opened fire.
Nineteen children died in this class together with two teachers.
MORE: What we know about the victims of the Texas Elementary School shooting
For the staff in charge, it was personal. Many have their own children.
“All ambulances are ready. Don’t try to get close. We were shot at, ”the radio told rescuers.
Officials say officers shot the suspect about 40 minutes to an hour after his first meeting with a school service officer at the entrance to the building.
Authorities say the suspect turned 18 just nine days ago.
The ATF said it was only a day after his birthday that Ramos bought an AR-15-style rifle.
Three days later he bought a second.
And four days later he was at Rob Elementary School.
Ramas’ grandfather told Matt Gutman of the ABC that he did not know his grandson had a weapon.
“If I had known, I would have reported it,” Roland Reyes said.
Reports received by ABC News also show a terrible warning minutes before the shooting.
The suspected gunman wrote an SMS to a 15-year-old girl in Germany.
He first described a quarrel with his grandmother over the payment of his phone bill.
He later wrote, “I’m going to shoot the elementary school right now.”
Now investigators are moving to his social networks.
The headmaster finished the school year early.
SEE ALSO: In the United States there has been a sharp rise in mass shootings
Dr Hal Harel, a UCISD superintendent, said: “Today my heart has been broken. We are a small community and we will need your prayers to survive this.”
A customs and border guard told ABC News that four border guards, members of elite specialized units, along with state and local officers had joined the fight and stopped the shooter.
ACTION: Resources for survivors and victims of gun violence
The number of wounded or killed does not include a suspect or criminal. These graphs show the number of victims in all mass shootings after 20 children and six adults were killed on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
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