President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrived in Uvalde, Texas on Sunday morning to comfort a community reeling from the deadliest school shooting in the United States in a decade.
Nineteen children and two teachers were killed on Tuesday, when an 18-year-old gunman stormed into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas and locked himself in a fourth grade classroom.
Salvador Ramos, 18, had an AR style assault rifle on him and had recently legally purchased two weapons and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition.
Authorities said they found more than 300 rounds inside the school including 142 bullets that had been fired.
The president and his wife lay a bouquet of flowers at a memorial site to the victims that has sprung up outside of Robb Elementary in the days since the attack. They then solemnly inspected portraits of the victims that have been left at the site. The first lady and president could be seen on video touching some of the photos. The two then attended mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church just a kilometre from the school.
The attack in Uvalde is the deadliest school shooting in the US since 2012, when 26 people, including 20 children, were killed at Sandyhook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
It has shaken the community of 15,000 to its core and once again ignited a furious and often repeated debate on gun control in the US.
Thousands gathered outside the National Rifle Association’s annual convention held in Houston, Texas, just a four drive from Uvalde, to protest against America’s biggest gun lobby.
Former President Donald Trump, who headlined the event, denounced calls for gun regulations and said now was a time to “unite”.
Police have been heavily criticised for failing to intervene in the attack earlier. On Friday, it was revealed that 19 police officers were in the hallway waiting to breach the classroom door for 45 minutes.
“Of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision,” said Steven McCraw, Texas Department of Public Safety Director.
"From what we know, we believe there should have been an entry as soon as you can," he added.
Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, who initially praised law enforcement's response has had to walk back his previous comments.
"I was misled," he said at a news conferencing on Friday. "I am livid about what happened."
"Those are families whose lives have been destroyed. They need answers that are accurate and it is inexcusable that they may have suffered from any inaccurate information whatsoever," he added
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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
President Biden was expected to meet with families of those killed in Tuesday’s shooting as well as survivors later on Sunday.
The president was also expected to meet with first responders.
Mr Biden’s trip to Uvalde was the second time in two weeks he had travelled to comfort an ailing community.
Earlier this month, he visited Buffalo, New York after a gunman opened fire at a shopping centre, killing 10 people, in what authorities have said was a racially motivated attack.
Agencies contributed to this report
