Uvalde school shooting suspect was a loner who bought two assault rifles for his 18th birthday | CNN

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The suspect who killed 19 kids and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, was a local high school student with few if any friends who officials said legally purchased two assault rifles and scores of ammo last week for his 18th birthday.

Salvador Ramos was identified as the gunman who stormed into Robb Elementary on Tuesday with an assault rifle and tactical vest, barricaded himself in adjoining classrooms of children and opened fire, authorities said. Responding officers eventually forced their way into the room and a Border Patrol officer fatally shot him.

The heinous attack came just two days before students were set to be released for the summer and left a community and nation asking yet again: Who would do this, and why?

An examination of Ramos’ personal background reveals a bullied loner with no criminal history and – like so many other mass shooters in America – interest in and access to high-powered firearms and ammunition in a political system that prioritizes gun rights.

The suspect’s actions leading up to the shooting offer hints at his mindset and plan.

Ramos legally purchased two AR platform rifles at a local federal firearms licensee on May 17 and on May 20, according to Texas state Sen. John Whitmire, who received a briefing from law enforcement Tuesday night. He also purchased 375 rounds of ammunition on May 18, Whitmire said, citing law enforcement.

State Sen. Ronald Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, said the purchases were made for the suspect’s 18th birthday.

“It’s the first thing he did when he turned 18,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett Tuesday evening, citing a briefing he received from Texas Rangers.

Gutierrez said the guns were bought legally from a federally authorized dealer in the Uvalde area. “(He) had no problem accessing those weapons,” he said.

A photo of two AR15-style rifles appeared on an Instagram account tied to gunman three days before the shooting. Part of the image has been obscured by CNN to remove the name of a third party.

A photo of two AR15-style rifles appeared on an Instagram account tied to the suspect just three days before the massacre. The photo was posted as a story under the username “salv8dor_.” Multiple classmates confirmed the account belonged to the suspected gunman.

His shooting spree began Tuesday prior to arriving at Robb Elementary. Ramos first shot his grandmother at her home and then fled the scene, authorities said. The grandmother was airlifted to a hospital and is still alive as of Wednesday morning, said Lt. Chris Olivarez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

From there, the suspect crashed his vehicle into a ditch near the elementary school and emerged with a rifle and a backpack while wearing a tactical vest that holds extra ammunition, said DPS Sgt. Erick Estrada.

A police vehicle is seen parked near a truck believed to belong to the suspect on May 24, 2022.

Ramos moved toward the school and entered through a back door, DPS Director Steve McCraw said. A school resource officer “engaged” him but no shots were fired, he said.

He then barricaded himself in a classroom and an adjoining classroom opened fire at those inside. All of the 19 children and two teachers killed were in those rooms, Olivarez said.

“The initial group of officers that were on scene, at that point, they were at a point of disadvantage because the shooter was able to barricade himself inside that classroom. There was not sufficient manpower at that time and their main, their primary focus was preserve any further loss of life,” Olivarez said. “So they started breaking windows around the school, and trying to rescue, evacuate children and teachers while that was going on.”

A specialized tactical team forced their way into the classroom and fatally shot the suspect, Olivarez said. One officer was shot and had a non-life-threatening injury, he added.

Uvalde firefighter Chip King told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that it took about 30 minutes after he arrived on the scene for the gunman to be neutralized by law enforcement.

Investigators found one of the suspect’s rifles, manufactured by Daniel Defense, in the school with the suspect, Whitmire said, citing the ATF. The gunman’s other rifle was left in the truck that crashed.

In addition, it appears the suspect dropped a backpack with several magazines of ammunition near the entrance of the school, authorities told the state senator. Inside the school, authorities found what appears to be seven 30-round magazines.