10 dead, 10 wounded in TX high school shooting; explosives found in and near school

SANTA FE, TX (RNN) – A gunman killed 10 people and wounded 10 others in the third school shooting of the week.

The suspect, identified by the Associated Press and multiple news outlets as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire at Sante Fe High School shortly after classes began at 7:30 a.m. CT.

Authorities said he used two weapons in the attack, a 38 revolver and a shotgun. Both of them belonged to the teen’s father.

There were also pipe bombs and pressure cooker explosive devices found at the high school and in adjacent areas of the community, officials said.

"Law enforcement is in the process of rendering them safe," the Santa Fe Independent School District said.

Pagourtzis has been charged with multiple counts of capital murder, according to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot said in a news conference that 10 people have died and 10 others were injured. A majority of those killed were students, and some local media reports that one teacher was killed.

The injured were transported to medical centers, including one school police officer, Braun said. Six were treated and released; one is in critical condition and another in fair condition.

"The shooter obtained the guns from his father. His father was not aware his son had taken the guns," Abbot said.

Abbot said that Pagourtzis’ journals contain entries that he wanted to commit the shooting then take his own life. He’s currently at the Santa Fe Police Department.

The Associated Press reports that Pagourtzis plays on the Santa Fe High School junior varsity football team, and is a member of a dance squad with a local Greek Orthodox church.

CNN reports that his social media accounts show him with fascist and neo-Nazi symbols as well as wearing a T-shirt that reads "Born to Kill."

Another person of interest has been taken into custody, in addition to the suspect. It’s not clear if he’s an accomplice.

"Texas has seen too many of these, said Senator Ted Cruz."We need to be doing everything humanly possible to stop this from happening again."

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said that the situation is no longer active but is an active crime scene. They described the shooting as "a multiple casualty incident." 

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is treating three patients, said spokesman Raul Reyes.

One student was shot in the leg. Another patient, the resource officer, is in critical condition with significant blood loss. Two patients were middle-aged adults.

The school was supposed to hold its commencement ceremony on Saturday.

Abbot said that he is creating round table discussions on what can be done to prevent additional mass shootings. He wants to hear from teachers, mental health professionals, and parents, but wants to protect Second Amendment rights.

"It is with great sadness that I stand here to share with you that we experienced an unthinkable tragedy at our high school this morning," said Superintendent Leigh Wall. "We are grieving the loss of members of our SFISD family."

Witnesses told KTRK the shooting took place in an art class around 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. 

"It was just a normal class day and we were just sitting there doing our work in first period, then all of a sudden, it was a fire drill," student Angelica Martinez said to CNN. 

"So we followed the fire drill procedures, and then we went outside and we were all standing there. But not even five minutes later, we all start hearing gunshots, and everybody starts running. But, like, the teachers were telling us to stay put because we were all just running away."

A mother of a student said her child called her about the incident.

"She called frantically to say there was a fire drill and they were outside," Angie Martinez said. "And then she heard gunshots and that was an active shooter. So I told her, I said, ‘Run baby, run and hide.’ I said, ‘Get out of there.’ … I said, ‘Go wherever you need to go … go to the gas station.’ There’s a gas station caddy corner to the school. … ‘Me and your dad are on our way. Me and your dad are on our way. Just run.’"

One student told KTRK his friend pulled the school fire alarm after spotting a suspect with a gun. Other students said they heard sounds similar to gunfire.

Kara, a student at the school said of the person who pulled the fire alarm, "Thank you for making a smart decision to save your classmates."

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez asked people to avoid the area as children are reunited with their parents. Students were taken to a nearby gym, the school district said.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the school. 

Santa Fe is located between Houston and Galveston. The city has about 13,000 residents, and the high school has 1,400 students.

President Donald Trump addressed the shooting in remarks from the White House.

"We’re with you in this tragic hour, and we’ll be with you forever," he said

The shooting at Santa Fe High School is the third school shooting in the past seven days, CNN reported. 

This may be the deadliest school shooting since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14, which killed 17 and brought new impetus to the gun safety debate. One Santa Fe student shared pictures on Twitter of classmates who took part in the National School Walkout to protest school shootings.

Several students from the Parkland, FL, school have become vocal advocates of gun safety, and some in right-wing circles have harshly criticized the students.

Cameron Kasky, a Stoneman Douglas student, expressed his anger at another school shooting, remarking in part, "Prepare for the right-wing media to attack the survivors."

Last November, a former Air Force serviceman who had been court-martialed for domestic violence, Devin Patrick Kelley, killed 26 at a church in Sutherland Springs, TX, outside San Antonio.

The massacre included nine members of the Holcombe family, including the visiting pastor at the church, Bryan Holcombe.

Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source: New feed