It was the deadliest shooting at a US grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary almost a decade ago
Authorities say the victim death toll from the Texas school shooting now stands at 19 children and two adults.
Fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles has been confirmed as one of the adults killed in the attack, as well as Irma Garcia, who taught at the school for 23 years.
Eight-year-old Uziyah Garcia and Xavier Javier Lopez, 10, were confirmed by the Associated Press to have been killed after speaking with members of their families.
Amerie Jo Garza, also 10, was identified by family as one of the children killed, according to ABC news.
The gunman also died.
The carnage began with the 18-year-old suspect, identified as Salvador Ramos, shooting his own grandmother, who survived, authorities said.He fled that scene and crashed his car near the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a town about 80 miles (130 km) west of San Antonio. There he launched a bloody rampage that ended when he was killed, apparently shot by police.
The motive was not immediately clear.
It was the deadliest shooting at a US grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago.
And it came just 10 days after a gunman in body armour killed 10 black shoppers and workers at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in what authorities say was a racist attack.
“My heart is broken today,” said Hal Harrell, the school district superintendent, announcing that all school activities were cancelled until further notice.
“We’re a small community and we’re going to need you prayers to get through this.”
The gunman, who was wearing body armour and had hinted on social media of an upcoming attack, crashed his car outside the school and went inside armed, Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN.
Federal law enforcement officials said the death toll was expected to rise. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release investigative details.