Texas pupils’ lives shattered by shooting two days before summer break

By Sharon Bernstein

(Reuters) -The youngsters at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Texas, had been two days away from their summer time break when Tuesday’s bloodbath unfolded.

They’d visited the zoo and took part in a gifted-and-talented showcase, latest posts on the college’s Fb web page confirmed. Tuesday was awards day, in accordance with the calendar, and pupils had been invited to put on a pleasant outfit and enjoyable sneakers as a part of a “footloose and fancy” theme.

However at 11:43 a.m., a be aware was posted on the Fb feed: “Please know at the moment Robb Elementary is beneath a Lockdown Standing as a consequence of gunshots within the space. The pupils and employees are protected within the constructing,” it learn.

Then got here a second message: “There’s an energetic shooter at Robb Elementary. Regulation enforcement is on web site.”

College directors requested dad and mom to remain away. The varsity serves about 570 youngsters in second by means of fourth grades, practically 90% of them Hispanic.

The main points that got here subsequent had been devastating: an 18-year-old gunman had opened fireplace on the college, killing 19 youngsters and two adults, officers stated.

Messages poured in from world wide, providing prayers and expressing outrage at one more U.S. mass capturing.

“Our hearts are breaking for the households which were affected by this evil,” Susan Vanderwier of Indiana wrote on the college’s Fb web page.

The varsity district stated the elementary college, the place the scholar mission assertion is “Reside. Be taught. Love. Lead,” would stay closed for the ultimate days of the college yr.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Modifying by Colleen Jenkins and Howard Goller)