Salvador Ramos,
18, gunned down on Tuesday after killing 19 of his schoolmates and two adults,
had not had the smoothest life. People who knew him say he was a steadfast
loner who “went out of his way to keep by himself.” Life at home wasn’t smooth,
as he frequently got into quarrels with his mother, who according to US media
reports, used drugs. At school, he was bullied for a speech impediment.

These and other
details have surfaced about the 18-year-old who went on a shooting spree at the
Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Uvalde is inhabited by a small working-class
community and is located only a few kilometres away from the Mexico border.

Also Read | Who was Salvador Rolando Ramos, the 18-year-old Texas elementary school shooter?

Salvador Ramos
worked as a night manager at Wendy’s. His colleagues, who spoke to the New York
Times, say they never really knew him. The New York Times further reported that
two parents who were friends with Ramos’ family described the 18-year-old as
serious. They were surprised that he could be capable of such violence.

Before setting out
on a killing spree, Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother at her home, Texas
state police said. His grandmother was hospitalised and is critical.

Also Read | ‘Ima air out’: Alleged Texas school shooter Salvador Ramos’ last words

Ramos’ friends and
relatives, who spoke to The Washington Post, said he was “bullied over a
childhood speech impediment, suffered from a fraught home life and lashed out
violently against peers and strangers recently and over the years.”

The 18-year-old
missed long periods of high school and was not on track to graduate this year,
his classmates told a US-based news outlet. Ramos reportedly dropped out of
school after consistent bullying.

One of Ramos’
friends, speaking to The Washington Post, said, “About a year ago, Ramos posted
on social media photos of automatic rifles that ‘he would have on his wish list’…Four
days ago, he posted images of two rifles he referred to as ‘my gun pics’.