Texas school shooting: Gunman's chilling message as haunting video emerges

Disturbing details have emerged about the teenage gunman who shot dead at least 19 students, one teacher and one other at a Texas primary school.

Salvador Ramos, 18, who was shot dead by police, opened fire at Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde on Tuesday morning (local time). In addition to the deceased, multiple injured children have been rushed to nearby hospitals.

Images from his now-removed Instagram account indicate a gun-obsessed teenager, with several photos of guns and one believed to be him holding the magazine of a rifle, the Daily Mail reported.

A picture of Salvador Ramos who police have identified as the gunman of the Texas school shooting. Source: ABC
Police have identified the gunman responsible for the Texas school shooting as Salvador Ramos. Source: ABC

According to claims from one female Instagram user, Ramos messaged her, tagging her in a photo of guns, saying: "I got lil secret. I wanna tell you."

"Be grateful I tagged you," he later told her, a screenshot of the message chain indicates.

The user responded: "No it's just scary..."

On her Instagram stories seen by Yahoo, she said she did not know Ramos and he had randomly tagged her in his post.

Images taken from an Instagram account believed to belong to Salvador Ramos. Source: Instagram via Daily Mail
Images taken from an Instagram account believed to belong to Salvador Ramos. Source: Instagram via Daily Mail

He later messaged: "I'm about to."

She questioned what to which he responded saying he would message later.

She denied speculation online she was Ramos's girlfriend.

Police later pictured Ramos, a high school student in the same town as the shooting, the ABC reported.

Video from school grounds emerges

Unverified video shared on social media appears to show a man, believed to be Ramos, moving between school buildings.

The person can be seen lurking beside a car park before disappearing out of shot.

Unverified video from the school appears to show a man lurking behind one of the buildings at the school in Uvalde, Texas. Source: Facebook
Unverified video from the school appears to show a man lurking behind one of the buildings at the school in Uvalde, Texas. Source: Facebook

Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Erick Estrada told CNN Ramos crashed a vehicle in a ditch near the school.

"That’s where he exited his vehicle with what I believe was a rifle and that’s when he attempted to enter the school where he was engaged by law enforcement," he said.

"Unfortunately, he was able to enter the premises and then from there that’s when he entered several classrooms and started shooting his firearm.”

He was wearing body armour, a backpack and armed with a long rifle, Mr Estrada said.

A police vehicle is seen parked near of a truck believed to belong to the suspect of a shooting at Robb Elementary School after a shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, U.S. May 24, 2022.  REUTERS/Marco Bello
The abandoned truck believed to have been driven by Salvador Ramos. Source: Reuters

Biden asks where's America's backbone

The shooting, which at 21 deaths makes it the third deadliest school shooting in the US, has reignited calls for tighter gun laws in the US.

US Vice President Kamala Harris responded to the shooting by saying "enough is enough".

"As a nation we have to have the courage to take action," she said.

People react outside the Ssgt Willie de Leon Civic Center, where students had been transported from Robb Elementary School after a shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, U.S. May 24, 2022.  REUTERS/Marco Bello
Two people break down at a community centre near the school where students had been relocated. Source: Reuters

President Joe Biden followed, saying he was "sick and tired" of learning of new mass shootings in the US, calling for gun reform.

"We have to act. And don't tell me we can't have an impact on this carnage," he said.

"Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God’s name is our backbone to have the courage to deal with and stand up to the lobbyists?"

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.

undefined