Texas shooting: Suspect Dimitrios Pagourtzis charged as 10 are killed and explosive devices found at high school - as it happened
Officials say the gunman used his father's firearms and later talked about wanting to save students he liked so they could 'tell his story'
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Your support makes all the difference.Ten people were killed after a gunman believed to be a student opened fire at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, in the latest spasm of gun violence in a country still shaken by the massacre at a Florida high school in February.
Authorities quickly named 17-year-old student Dimitrios Pagourtzis as their suspect. Later in the day he was charged with capital murder - for which he did not enter a plea - and was denied bond. He was being held in solitary confinement.
Scenes of grief and horror streamed out of the small community less than an hour's drive from Houston. Stunned and weeping teenagers tried to piece together the mayhem they had experienced. Schools were set to be closed for the start of the following week, with the FBI saying Santa Fe High School and the surrounding area would remain a closed crime scene “for some time”.
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Authorities said the assailant appeared to have obtained his weapons - a shotgun and a revolver - from his father, who possessed them legally. Explosive devices were found both at the school and off campus, Mr Gonzalez said.
Court documents said the suspect admitted to authorities having carried out the shooting “with the intent of killing people” and said he spared the lives of students he liked so that “he could have his story told“.
Writings in the suspect's journals that indicated he wanted to take his own life, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said.
“We also know information already that the shooter has information contained in journals on his computer and his cell phone that he said that not only did he want to commit the shooting, but he wanted to commit suicide after the shooting,” he said.
“As you probably know, he gave himself up and admitted at the time he didn't have the courage to commit the suicide, that he wanted to take his own life earlier,” Abbott added.
Some fellow students described him as quiet. He also played on the school's American football team.
President Donald Trump called the shooting heartbreaking and said that federal and local authorities were coordinating in the wake of the gun attack.
“My administration is determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others,” Mr Trump said at the White House.
As the day unfolded, Democratic elected officials said the latest shooting again proved the need for tougher gun laws. They were joined by teenage survivors of the Florida shooting who have turned into vocal fun control advocates.
While Mr Abbott said he intended to convene a series of public meetings to find “solutions” that would prevent more shootings, he did not elaborate on details.
Officials said that there were explosive devices found in the high school and surrounding areas, and are urging the public to leave unusual items alone and to call police.
“There have been explosive devices found in the high school and the area surrounding the high school,” one official said during an afternoon press conference.
The governor of Texas, Gregg Abbott, is expected to land in Sant Fe soon
The Houston Chronicle, quoting law enforcement sources, says the suspected shooter was armed with multiple weapons - an AR-15 style rifle, a pistol, a shotgun and pipe bombs.
CNN says the suspected shooter, who is in custody, is a 17-year-old student at the school
Medical professionals at the University of Texas medical branch say that they have received three patients, and one is currently in surgery.
The officials say that they are also going to be receiving blood donations outside of the hospital today, and they may continue to receive blood donations Saturday as well.
"We have not heard that we will be receiving more patients, tragically," David Marshall, the chief nursing officer, said alluding to the number of reported fatalities.
CNN is quoting a law enforcement official who says 10 people are dead in the Texas high school shooting; nine of those killed are students and one a teacher. Once again, this has not been officially confirmed.
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has issued a statement:
"My heart is heavy from watching the horrific events that unfolded at Santa Fe High School today. My prayers are with each student, parent, educator and first responder impacted. Our schools must be safe and nurturing environments for learning. No student should have to experience the trauma suffered by so many today and in similar events prior. We simply cannot allow this trend to continue.
"Every day, the Federal Commission on School Safety is working to identify proven ways to prevent violence and keep our students safe at school. Our work remains urgent. Our nation must come together and address the underlying issues that lead to such tragic and senseless loss of life."
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