Tragedy: At Least 19 Children Were Killed in a Massacre at a Texas Elementary School

 As you’ve no doubt heard by now, there was another school shooting yesterday . . . and while EVERY SINGLE mass shooting is a senseless tragedy, this one was especially horrific, because it happened at an elementary school, filled with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students.

Here’s everything you need to know:

1.  It happened at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas . . . a rural town about 90 minutes west of San Antonio.  At approximately 11:32 A.M. local time, an 18-year-old male entered the school with several guns . . . and opened fire.

2.  At least 19 children and two adults were killed, but others were seriously hurt . . . so it’s possible that the number will be higher.  At least one of the adults was a teacher.

3. According to reports, the 18-year-old shooter was Salvador Ramos.  He had attended a nearby high school.  He was wearing body armor during the massacre . . . and was eventually shot and killed by law enforcement at the school, while exchanging fire with the officers.

4.  The exact timeline is still being pieced together, but the shooter shot his grandmother at her home (she’s in critical condition) . . . then crashed his truck through a barrier at the school . . . and went in and started the rampage.

5.  Law enforcement sources in Texas said the shooter had a handgun, an AR-15 assault weapon, and high capacity magazines.  They believe he acted alone.

6.  It’s unclear if the shooter targeted that specific school, or if it was just chance . . . but it does seem like it was premeditated.  A former classmate said that he texted him photos of the AR-15 and a bag full of ammo days before the attack.

A social media account that belonged to the shooter showed him teasing the carnage.  And his Instagram account was mostly just selfies and photos of guns.

7.  A Texas State Senator said that the shooter turned 18 just “days ago,” and purchased two assault rifles on his 18th birthday.  It’s not clear if they were used in the massacre.

8.  There’s no indication yet what the motive might have been.

9.  This is now the deadliest American school shooting since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012.  26 people were killed there . . . 20 of the victims were kids between six and seven years old, and six were adult staff members.

10.  President Biden condemned the shooting in an address last night.  He said, quote, “I had hoped when I became president I would not have to do this . . . again. Another massacre.  Uvalde, Texas.  An elementary school.

“Beautiful, innocent second, third, and fourth graders.  And how many scores of little children who witnessed what happened . . . see their friends die, as if they’re in a battlefield, for God’s sake.  They’ll live with it the rest of their lives.”  (You can watch the full address, here.)

Naturally, this has once again ripped the Band-Aid off of the long-simmering gun debate . . . with some politicians demanding that we act and get something done, and others arguing that we should stick with the status quo.

Coincidentally, the National Rifle Association is set to hold its annual meeting in Houston starting on Friday.  Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to appear, along with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former President Donald Trump.

Additional scheduled speakers include Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.  No Democrats are scheduled to speak.

(Obviously, this is an evolving story.  For the latest, here are updating links from CNN, Fox News, and the New York Times.)