At least 19 children and two adults killed in Texas school shooting

Gunman killed horrifically and incomprehensibly, Governor Greg Abbott says

A teenage gunman killed 19 young children at a primary school in Texas on Tuesday, prompting a furious US President Joe Biden to denounce the country's gun lobby and vow to end the cycle of mass shootings.

The attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a small community about 130 kilometres from the Mexican border, is the deadliest US school shooting in years and the latest in a spree of bloody gun violence across America.

"It's time to turn this pain into action for every parent, for every citizen of this country," Mr Biden said, his voice heavy with emotion.

State senator Roland Gutierrez had earlier said 18 children and two adults were killed in the rampage. Later on Tuesday, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman put the toll at 19 pupils and two adults.

Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters

A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters

Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters

Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters

A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters

People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters

Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP

People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP

Flowers are left outside the school. AFP

Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo

Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP

A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP

Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP

Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP

The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters

Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters

People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP

Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA

A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP

Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Families at the vigil. AFP

A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP

Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP

Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP

Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters

A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg

Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

Texas Governor Greg Abbott named the suspect as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old local resident and a US citizen.

"He shot and killed, horrifically and incomprehensibly," Mr Abbott said.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials told CNN that the gunman shot his grandmother before heading to the school at about noon. He abandoned his vehicle and entered with a handgun and a rifle, wearing body armour.

The gunman is also dead, Mr Abbott said.

“It is believed that responding officers killed him,” he said.

Uvalde is about 135 kilometres west of San Antonio.

Mr Biden learnt of the killings on his return to Washington from a trip in Asia, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.

"I had hoped when I became president I would not have to do this again," Mr Biden said at the White House.

"Another massacre. Uvalde, Texas. An elementary school. Beautiful, second, third, fourth graders."

Mr Biden has issued an order for US flags at the White House to be flown at half-staff.

An emotional US Vice President Kamala Harris announced the shooting from the dais at the Asian Pacific American Institute in Washington.

"Enough is enough," Ms Harris said.

"As a nation, we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy to ensure something like this never happens again.

"I will just say to the people of Uvalde, please know that this is a roomful of leaders who grieve with you. And we are praying for you and we stand with you."

On Tuesday, the Uvalde School District tweeted that there was a shooter at Robb Elementary, which has fewer than 600 pupils.

The district had earlier announced that all local schools were in lockdown because of reports of gunshots in the area.

Shortly after 2pm, the school district said pupils were taken to a civic centre where they could be picked up by relatives.

The gun control issue has divided the US, with some calling for stricter laws and others defending their constitutional right to bear arms.

US senator Chris Murphy tweeted: "Oh my God. I'm shaking. I'm just shaking all over. With fear. With anger. With resolve."

Mr Murphy, a member of the Democratic Party, gave a speech in Senate chamber floor, repeatedly saying: "What are we doing here?

"The 14 kids dead in an elementary school in Texas right now. What are we doing? What are we doing?"

The Uvalde shooting was the deadliest at a US primary school since 26 people died in an attack at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, about a decade ago.

"Our kids are living in fear, every single time they set foot in a classroom, because they think they’re going to be next," Mr Murphy told the Senate.

"What are we doing? Why do you spend all this time running for the United States Senate?"

The shooting comes days before Mr Abbott, senator Ted Cruz and former president Donald Trump are scheduled to speak at a National Rifle Association conference in Houston, Texas.

Beto O’Rourke, a Democratic candidate for the Texas governor's post, tweeted: “The moment to stop Uvalde was right after Sandy Hook. After Santa Fe High. After El Paso.

"Instead, Abbott made it easier to carry guns in public. The moment to stop the next slaughter is right now.”

Texans will go the polls in November to chose between keeping pro-gun candidate Mr Abbott, or voting for Mr O’Rourke.

Mr Abbott last year signed legislation that allows Texans to carry handguns without any type of licence.

Agencies contributed to this report