Fourteen students and a teacher were shot dead by an 18-year-old who opened fire on the campus of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday afternoon. The shooter is also dead and is believed to have been killed by responding officers, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. 

“It’s believed that he abandoned his vehicle and entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun and he may have also had a rifle, but that is not yet confirmed according to my most recent report,” Abbott said in a press conference on Tuesday. 

He added that the shooter, who is an 18-year-old from Uvalde, is dead.

“It’s believed that responding officers killed him,” he said. “It appears that two responding officers were struck by rounds but have no serious injuries.”

Also Read: Nine shot, one killed in hookah lounge party in San Bernardino, California

He also released a statement saying, “Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde. Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering. We thank the courageous first responders who worked to finally secure Robb Elementary School.”

He added that he has instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to investigate the shooting.

“The Texas Division of Emergency Management is charged with providing local officials all resources necessary to respond to this tragedy as the State of Texas works to ensure the community has what it needs to heal,” he said.

Also Read: Naked Florida man on murder spree arrested after killing 3 people

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident

“President Biden has been briefed on the horrific news of the elementary school shooting in Texas and will continue to be briefed regularly as information becomes available,” she tweeted.

“His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event, and he will speak this evening when he arrives back at the White House,” Jean-Pierre added.