Texas high school shooting leaves 8-10 dead, 1 suspect in custody, 1 detained

By Kathleen Joyce, Jennifer Earl

Published May 18, 2018

A Texas high school student unleashed a hail of bullets inside one of his classes early Friday morning, gunning down eight to 10 people, police said.

The suspected shooter was taken into police custody and a second suspect has been detained. The suspect in custody and the suspect detained for further questioning were both students. 

Students were evacuated from Santa Fe High School in Texas following a shooting that killed eight to 10 people.

Police officers responded to Santa Fe High School around 8 a.m. CDT after reports that a shooter opened fire inside. 

The Santa Fe School District stated possible explosive devices were foundn on and off the school's campus. Law enforcement officers were on the scene "rendering them safe." The school has been evacuated. 

A school rseource officer was shot and injured and another officer was also injured in the incident, CBS News reported.

Video

Trump: We grieve for terrible loss of life at Sante Fe High

The chief nursing officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch told reporters the center received two adult patients and one person under 18 years old. 

Galveston County Sheriff's Maj. Douglas Hudson said units responded to reports of shots fired. Witnesses say a gunman opened fire inside an art class during first period. A student in the class told KTRK she witnessed at least one girl being shot.

"We thought it was a fire drill at first but really, the teacher said, 'Start running,'" the student told the news station.

Students console each other following a school shooting at Santa Fe High School.  (AP)

Two seniors at the school told KHOU 11 their friend pulled the fire alarm after spotting the shooter and urged other students to run. They also said they saw an injured female student.

“Now I am worried about everyone else,” one student commented. “ I don’t even want to go to graduation now.”

The student said she did not get a good look at the shooter because she was running away. She said students escaped through a door at the back of the classroom.

Video

Report: Texas gunman entered art class, opened fire

Authorities have not yet confirmed these accounts.

President Trump tweeted Friday regarding the shooting stating, "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!"

Trump mentioned the school shooting during a speech at the White House Friday.

“Unfortunately I have to begin by expressing our sadness and heartbreak over the deadly shooting in Texas,” he said. “We send prayers and support for everyone affected in the horrific attack. 

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also tweeted regarding the shooting.

“Heidi and I are keeping all the students and faculty at Santa Fe High School in our prayers this morning, along with all first responders on the scene. Please be safe and heed warnings from local officials," he said.

Aerial footage from the scene showed students standing in a grassy field while officers inspected their backpacks. At least three life-flight helicopters landed at the school.

Eight to 10 people were killed Friday in a school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.  (AP)

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said it was also on the scene. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted early Friday that he arrived at the school to assist officers with the Galveston County Sheriff Office.

Santa Fe is a city of about 13,000 residents, located 30 miles southeast of Houston.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Vette wrote:

---

We fix it by not putting it on the news. All these shooters want is attention and they get lots of it.

---

 You have a good point. On the radio station I listen to, today they would talk about the situation but refused to mention the perp's name.