A gunman stormed into an elementary school Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers in the United States' deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade.
Law enforcement officers killed the gunman, identified as a local 18-year-old who had shot and wounded his grandmother and spelled out his violent plans in online messages shortly before the massacre at Robb Elementary. Investigators say they don't yet know a motive for the shootings.
Here's a summary of what we know so far about the gunman and shooting, according to state and federal law enforcement officials:
May 16-17
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- Salvador Ramos turned 18 on May 16. The next day he bought the first of two AR-15-style rifles from a federally licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area.
May 18-20
- On May 18, he bought 375 rounds of ammunition, and on May 20, he bought the second AR-15-type rifle. One was a Smith & Wesson M&P 15. The other was a Daniel Defense Model DDM V7, for which he also bought a laser-aided sight. NBC News estimates the total cost was at least $3,500.
May 24
- Sometime around 11 a.m. CT time on Tuesday, he wrote in a private Facebook message, "I am going to shoot my grandmother. He then shot the 66-year-old in the face and wrote "I shot my grandmother." A bit later, he wrote, "I'm going to shoot an elementary school."
- His grandmother managed to run to a neighbor's house and report the shooting, and police responded to her house. Facebook spokesman Andy Stone says the messages “were private one-to-one text messages that were discovered after the terrible tragedy.”
A Facebook spokesman says messages posted by the gunman were private. Andy Stone says the messages “were private one-to-one text messages that were discovered after the terrible tragedy.” He says Facebook is cooperating with investigators.
- The shooter took off, driving the grandmother's truck, and crashing it in a drainage ditch near the school at 11:20 a.m. He ran toward the school, carrying the Daniel Defense rifle and a backpack with extra ammunition magazines. The Smith & Wesson was found on the ground outside the car.
- The gunman entered the building unobstructed at 11:30 a.m. Contrary to earlier information from authorities, the shooter was not confronted by a school police officer.
- From the grandmother’s house, to the site of truck crash, to the school, and into the school, he was not confronted by anybody.
- The gunman walked into the west side of Robb Elementary at 11:40 a.m. and started firing.
- The first police officers did not arrive on the scene until 11:42 a.m., 12 minutes after the crash, and did not enter the school to pursue the shooter for another four minutes.
- Once inside, the police officers were driven back by gunfire from the gunman and took cover.
- The shooter entered and walked 20 to 30 feet and turned right to walk another 20 feet before he turned left and into a classroom.
- The gunman was at the school for up to an hour before law enforcement officers breached the classroom.
- As the officers stood in the hallway, many children repeatedly called 911 and pleaded for help.
- A law enforcement team — including local police and a tactical team from the U.S. Border Patrol — arrived but was unable to enter the classroom. They finally got the door open when the principal produced a master key.
- The gunman is believed to have waited for the agents to enter the room, then kicked open the closet door and began shooting.
- Agents exchanged gunfire with the shooter, killing him.
- Meanwhile, other officers who responded traversed the school grounds and shattered windows so teachers and students could escape.'
Who Are the Victims?
Authorities haven't yet released the victims' names, but information about them has emerged from their families.
Among those killed were long-tenured teachers, 10-year-olds who loved dancing to TikTok videos and recent honor roll recipients; sports lovers and "baby angels"; cousins, siblings, daughters and sons.
More Uvalde School Shooting Coverage:
What Don't We Know?
As the investigation is underway, we do not know who exactly saw the online posts attributed to the gunman; what, if any, history he had with Robb Elementary; and why he went on the rampage.
