UVALDE, Texas – Here’s what we know about the timeline of events of a shooting at a Texas elementary school that left 21 people dead and 17 injured.
Officials said 19 children and two adults were killed when a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a Texas city about 85 miles west of San Antonio on Tuesday (May 24). Students were in their last week of classes.
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The Associated Press reported that the shooter purchased two AR-style rifles just days before the attack, soon after his 18th birthday and seemed to hint online that something was about to happen.
What we know about the timeline of the Texas elementary school shooting
This timeline is based on the time in Uvalde, Texas -- which is one hour behind Michigan.
- Aproximately 11 a.m.: Shooter made three social media posts. One said he was going to shoot his grandmother, the next said he had shot the woman and the third said he was going to shoot up an elementary school.
- 11:32 a.m.: The shooting was first reported to the police.
- 11:43 a.m.: School announced it was on lockdown. Police department started sharing information on Facebook.
Police announced on Wednesday that the shooter barricaded himself inside a single classroom and “began shooting anyone that was in his way.”
- 12:17 p.m.: Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District announced the shooting on Twitter.
- 12:23 p.m.: The scene was still active. Parents were told to pick up children at Sgt. Willie Deleon Civic Center.
There is an active shooter at Robb Elementary. 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.
— Uvalde CISD (@Uvalde_CISD) May 24, 2022
The rest of the district is under a Secure Status.
- 1:06 p.m.: The suspected shooter -- Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, of Uvalde -- was killed by police at the scene after they broke into the classroom, according to police. He was inside the school for more than an hour before police killed him.
“It’s believed that he abandoned his vehicle and entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. “He shot and killed -- horrifically, incomprehensively -- 14 students and killed a teacher.”
- 4:16 p.m.: Uvalde Police Department held a news conference and shared it live on Facebook to release more details of the shooting. They confirmed the suspected shooter had been killed.
- 4:18 p.m.: Uvalde CISD chief of police Pete Arredondo delivered a statement.
- 4:33 p.m.: Abbott releases a statement on the shooting.
- 6:45 p.m.: Uvalde CISD and Uvalde CISD Police Department provide an update regarding the shooting.
- Before 7 p.m.: a Texas senator announced that 18 children and 3 adults had been killed in the shooting.
- 7:40 p.m.: President Joe Biden spoke about the shooting.
“To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away,” Biden said. “There’s a hollowness in your chest. You feel like you’re being sucked into it and never going to be able to get out.”
Read: Biden says ‘we have to act’ after Texas school shooting
12 victims identified
KSAT has identified 12 victims of the shooting as of noon Wednesday.
- Eva Mireles, a fourth-grade teacher at Robb Elementary School. She worked as a teacher at UCISD for 17 years.
- Xavier Lopez, a 10-year-old boy. His cousin told ABC News that Xavier’s mom was at his awards ceremony 1-2 hours prior to the shooting, not knowing it would be the last time she was seeing him.
- Amerie Jo Garza, a 10-year-old girl. Her father waited hours for news about her whereabouts after Tuesday’s shooting only to learn that she was among the victims.
- Uziyah Garcia, an 8-year-old boy. Manny Renfro told the AP he got word Tuesday that his grandson was among those killed. “The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Renfro said. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”
- Eliahana Cruz Torres, a student.
- Rojelio Torres, a 10-year-old boy. His aunt, Precious Perez, told KSAT: “Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy. We are devasted and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.”
- Annabelle Rodriguez, 10 and Jackie Cazares, 10. Their aunt, Polly Flores, identified her two nieces as among the students killed. They were both in the fourth grade, in the same class at Robb Elementary School.
- Alithea Ramirez, 10. Her father, Ryan Ramirez, confirmed his daughter, Alithia, was one of the victims. She was in the fourth grade, loved to draw and wanted to be an artist. She had recently submitted a drawing for the Doodle for Google contest.
- Irma Garcia, a teacher.
- Jailah Nicole Silguero, a student.
- Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, a student.
The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is in critical need of blood donations following the shooting, according to KSAT in San Antonio.
Residents who are capable and willing to donate can visit STBTC’s website to find a location or schedule an appointment online.