Makenna Lee Elrod, Uziyah Garcia, Amerie Jo Garza, Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, Xavier Lopez, Eliahana ‘Elijah’ Cruz Torres, Rogelio Torres, Ellie Garcia, Nevaeh Bravo, Tess Marie Mata

The identities of the victims of the Texas school massacre have now been officially released for the first time: Makenna Lee Elrod, Uziyah Garcia, Amerie Jo Garza, Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, Xavier Lopez, Eliahana ‘Elijah’ Cruz Torres, Rogelio Torres, Ellie Garcia, Nevaeh Bravo, Tess Marie Mata

May 25, 2022 - 09:12 Updated: Jan 15, 2024 - 19:57

SALVADOR RAMOS SHOT 19 CHILDREN IN TEXAS

The school killer bought the weapons on his 18th birthday

Mourning and horror after the Texas rampage. It is the most horrific school massacre in the U.S. since the murder of 20 first-graders in Sandy Hook (Connecticut state) in 2012. Now, 10 years later, another tragedy.

A rampage killer opened fire with assault rifles on Tuesday morning at "Robb Elementary" elementary school in Uvalde (US state of Texas): 19 children alone were killed!

Students in the second, third and fourth grades, aged between seven and nine, died in the hail of bullets.

Two adults were also killed in the carnage. A teacher died in the school. His own grandmother had already been gunned down by the killer before the school massacre. She was taken to a hospital.

The spree killer, identified as Salvador Ramos, was shot dead by Border Patrol officers after he barricaded himself in the school building. Apparently there had been a shootout beforehand, and several officers were injured by bullets.

The 18-year-old also lived in Uvalde, a small town near the border with Mexico. He had attended a local high school there. He was originally from North Dakota, an investigator said.

Ramos allegedly bought the murder weapons, most likely two assault rifles, on his 18th birthday. Legally, at a gun store.

There was prompt speculation about possible motives - and the first shocking details were gathered. Among them: Alarm signals on social media, which were tragically ignored!

Because days before the massacre Ramos had posted on his Instagram account (@Salv8doe_), alarming photos where he had presented himself and his weapons:

► In one shot, two assault rifles lie on a carpeted floor.

a addition, he posted two selfies: in one, he is standing in front of a mirror, wearing a gray sweater and a cold expression on his face.

► The second is a grainy black-and-white shot, his black long hair hanging in his face.

► Another photo shows an ammunition magazine on his lap.

The account had been suspended by Instagram parent Meta immediately after the shooting.

Mysterious contact with a woman @epnupues

Apparently, Ramos had made contact via Instagram with a woman (epnupues) who lives outside of Texas and had tagged his gun post on her page. In the direct message exchange, he wrote, "I have a little secret, I want to tell you!" Then, "I'm about to..." When she followed up with what he meant, he wrote back, "I'll tell you before 11..."

Half an hour later, the first shots whipped through the school building. The Instagram user affirmed that she did not know the shooter and was only communicating with him "because she was afraid of him."

The series of murders had begun with the death of Ramos' grandmother in her home in Uvalde. Her grandson had shot her there. After that, according to initial findings, he put on a bulletproof vest, packed his weapons in the car and drove to school. On the way he caused another accident - the car went off the road and landed in a ditch. In front of the entrance to the "Robb Elementary" elementary school, the first shots were fired, and there was also reportedly an exchange of fire with security personnel, CNN reported. Nevertheless, Ramos managed to enter the school building. Then the massacre of children began in several classrooms.

According to a report by ABC, investigators are currently looking into whether there were any connections between the spree killer and the elementary school - or whether he chose the target at random. What seems clear, however, based on the list of victims, is that he apparently wanted to kill children. The FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) took over the investigation.

Texas school shooting: everything we know about the victims

At least 19 children and two teachers were killed when the suspected gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, opened fire Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a small working-class town near the Mexican teacher's home.

Four 10-year-old fourth-grade students were among the victims.

Ramos, a student at Uvalde High School, was killed by police, according to authorities.