Texas school shooting: Suspect's grandmother upgraded to good condition

Twenty-one were killed and 17 were injured in last week's mass shooting.

Last Updated: January 19, 2023, 4:57 PM EST

A small town in rural Texas was left reeling after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school, killing 19 children.

Two teachers were also killed in the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, according to authorities.

The alleged gunman -- identified by authorities as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, a student at Uvalde High School -- was killed by law enforcement at the scene.

The suspect allegedly shot and injured his grandmother before opening fire at the school, officials said.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
May 29, 2022, 3:42 PM EDT

Suspected shooter's grandmother in fair condition

The Uvalde school shooting suspect's grandmother, who was the first person shot in Tuesday's attack, has been upgraded to fair condition, University Health officials tweeted Sunday.

The 66-year-old woman, who police said was allegedly shot in the head by her grandson, is being treated at University Hospital in San Antonio, officials said.

Two young victims who survived the shooting at Robb Elementary School remained in University Hospital on Sunday. A 10-year-old girl was listed in serious condition at the hospital, while a 9-year-old girl was listed in good condition, hospital officials said.

May 29, 2022, 1:37 PM EDT

Chaos, confusion and the decision to enter school: Sources

When federal agents from Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations arrived at Robb Elementary School Tuesday, they immediately encountered a scene of confusion and chaos, according to multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the attack.

Some arrived with heavy equipment, others with whatever they could carry as they ran to the scene on foot.

Initially, these agents, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News, tried to discern who was doing what, where was shooter who was engaging law enforcement and how were children were being evacuated.

Students escape through a window during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News

Once the tactical team assembled with enough gear, they became aware of an order not to enter the classroom because they were told the suspect had barricaded himself, the sources told ABC News.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has said the incident commander wrongly believed the shooting had stopped.

Eventually, the special agent-in-charge of Homeland Security Investigations gave the instruction to all federal agents under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security that they were free to use their best judgment and to do what they felt was best, the sources said.

The federal agents were unsure whether any children could be saved at that point, but they were interested in evacuating the wounded. Some agents brought children in other classrooms out through windows.

The tactical team went in at 12:50 p.m. CDT and fatally shot the suspect, 77 minutes after the shooting started, officials said.

The suspect was dead at the scene, the sources said. He was found with more than a dozen bullet wounds.

May 29, 2022, 1:10 PM EDT

Justice Department to investigate police response to Uvalde shooting

The Justice Department will conduct a critical incident review to examine the law enforcement response to last week’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, a spokesperson announced on Sunday.

The review is being conducted at the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin and the DOJ will publish a report on its findings at the conclusion.

"The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events. The review will be conducted with the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing," the DOJ said in a statement.

“As with prior Justice Department after-action reviews of mass shootings and other critical incidents, this assessment will be fair, transparent, and independent. The Justice Department will publish a report with its findings at the conclusion of its review.”

May 29, 2022, 9:10 PM EDT

President, first lady place bouquet of roses at Robb Elementary School memorial

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden paid their respects at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School on Sunday, placing a bouquet of white roses and viewing and touching photos of the 19 children and two teachers killed in Tuesday's attack at the school.

The Bidens' motorcade arrived to applause from community residents lining the street nearby.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pay their respects at a makeshift memorial outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 29, 2022.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The president and first lady met Robb Elementary School principal Mandy Gutierrez. The president hugged Gutierrez and appeared to offer words of comfort.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church after paying their respects at a memorial at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, May 29, 2022.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also joined the Bidens at the memorial.