Earlier this morning a shooting was reported at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, local authorities are reporting. At least eight people were killed and 12 were injured in the shooting with that number uncertain as of publishing the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is still receiving patients from the shooting.
Reports indicate that the shooting began around 8 a.m. local time after the gunman entered the school and immediately opened fire. The school was placed on lockdown and a suspect was placed into custody, while a second one was detained, according to NPR.
#UPDATE
Dr. Superintendent Leigh Wall:
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. We are grieving the loss of members of our SFISD family. #SantaFeISD— Santa Fe ISD (@SantaFeISD) May 18, 2018
The Santa Fe Independent School District issued the following statement this morning, “This morning an incident occurred at the high school involving an active shooter. The situation is active, but has been contained. There have been confirmed injuries. Details will be released as we receive updated information. Law enforcement will continue to secure the building and initiate all emergency management protocols to release and move students to another location. All other campuses are operating under their regular schedules.”
Several outlets, including ABC News and the Boston Globe, later reported that possible explosive devices may have been found on and off campus. Those reports were later confirmed by Santa Fe ISD via their Twitter, with a warning for locals to be mindful of suspicious packages in the area.
#UPDATE There have been explosive devices found in the high school and surrounding areas adjacent to the high school. Because of the threat of explosive items, community members should be on the look-out for suspicious packages and anything that looks out of place.
— Santa Fe ISD (@SantaFeISD) May 18, 2018
Following the shooting, there’s been an overwhelming sentiment across the Internet over what feels like shootings like this are happening far too often. Other gun activists, including survivors of the February 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida have released statements of support to students at the school.
To the students and faculty of Santa Fe High School, we are with you. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/3DYXOhmwsP
— March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) May 18, 2018
One Santa Fe student, reportedly named Paige, told local TV station, ABC 13, in an interview that has quickly gone viral: “It’s been happening everywhere. I always felt like eventually it would happen here. I wasn’t surprised, I was just scared.”
Her Campus will continue to update this story as more develops.