At least 18 young children and a teacher have died in a shooting at a primary school in south Texas.
The 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde before he was killed by law enforcement, officials said.
According to reports the suspect may have been carrying a semi-automatic rifle and handgun.
Shootings at primary schools, where pupils range in age from five to 11, are still relatively rare.
The attack on Tuesday comes amid a national rise in gun violence.
The Associated Press news agency reports that a Border Patrol official who was nearby when the shooting began on Tuesday morning rushed into the school and shot and killed the gunman, who was behind a barricade.
Report says the teen who may have been a high school student in the area, is also suspected of killing his grandmother at the start of the rampage.
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, Chief of Police, Pete Arredondo said the shooting began at 11:32 local time, and believe the attacker “did act alone during this heinous crime”.
Local hospitals said students from the school were being treated by emergency services.
A 66-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl were in critical condition, but being treated at a hospital in San Antonio, University Health hospital officials say.
Uvalde Mayor, Don McLaughlin told ABC News in a text message: “This is a very bad situation”.
According to reports the FBI is aiding the investigation.
In a speech from the White House, US President Joe Biden said he was “sick and tired” of responding to mass shootings as he called for gun control.
He ordered that flags on the White House and other US federal buildings be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims in Uvalde.
BBC/Adebukola Aluko
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