On Friday morning of May 18, 2018, a 17-year-old boy opened fire at Sante Fe High School in Texas. It was reported, by The National Post, that the school is located "about 30 miles southeast of Houston." According to The Star, law enforcement officials stated that "the victims are likely students." Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, in a statement to the press, said that at about eight people, and potentially ten, have died as a result of this fatal shooting. However, now CNN is confirming that nine students and one teacher have been killed. CNN has also confirmed that two police officers have been wounded, with a total of at least 13 people hospitalized.

The results

CNN reported, "A male suspect, believed to be a student, has been arrested in the shooting at Santa Fe High School, about 20 miles outside Galveston, Gonzalez said." It was also reported that a second 18-year-old person, believed to be a student, has been taken into custody as well. The 17-year-old injured suspect, who has been identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, is talking. CNN confirmed that pipe bombs and pressure cookers have been discovered in the school, as well as off campus.

According to The National Post, a student, in a telephone interview, told Houston television station KTRK she did not get a good look at the shooter who opened fire in her class. CNN reported, the witness heard an alarm while she was in art class, but was not clear if the alarm sounded before or after the gunfire started in her classroom.

When the gunfire started, her and other students began running away, towards the back door of the classroom. Authorities have confirmed that the gunman opened fire in the art classroom.

Another student, 14-year-old Angelica Martinez, told CNN "she and her schoolmates were being evacuated at one point like it's a fire drill." Angelica told CNN, "'We were all standing (outside), but not even five minutes later, we started hearing gunshots," she said, " ...

then everybody starts running, but like the teachers are telling us to stay put, but we're all just running away.'" She also told CNN that the gunshots were spaced out and that she heard about four.

Dakota Shrader, another student, told CNN affiliate KPRC that she heard the alarm go off in school before she heard the gunshots.

She told CNN "'I was in the history hallway, and as soon as we heard the alarms, everybody just started leaving following the same procedure as ... (a) practice fire drill," Shrader said, breaking into tears. "And next thing you know, we just hear ... three gunshots, loud explosions, and all the teachers are telling us to run."

The Star reported, "Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 AM." This correlates with CNN's report on the shooting beginning sometime after 7:30 AM. According to The Star, "Aerial footage from the scene showed students standing in a grassy field and three life-flight helicopters landing at the school in Santa Fe..." The National Post states that "school officials said law enforcement officers were working to secure the building and initiate all emergency management protocols to release and move students to another location.” According to The National Post, the students from Sante Fe High School have been moved to another area to be reunited with their parents.

The responses

According to CNN, this "is the third school shooting in eight days, and the 22nd since the beginning of the year in the United States." CNN reported that a student opened fire at Dixon High School in Illinois on Wednesday. Also reported by CNN, a 14-year-old boy opened fire on May 11 with a semiautomatic rifle at Highland High school in Palmdale California.

According to The Star, "The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was responding to a shooting at the school."

The National Post reported that Vice President Mike Pence stated he and President Donald Trump have been briefed on the fatal school shooting. "Pence said the students, families, teachers and all those affected should know: We’re with you.

You’re in our prayers and I know you are in the prayers of the American people.” Both Donald and Melania Trump have responded to the shooting on Twitter. Donald states in one of his tweets "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!" Melanie states in her tweet "My heart goes out to Santa Fe and all of Texas today."
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED