On Friday morning, a gunman opened fire on the Houston, Texas-area Santa Fe High School, killing nine students and one teacher and injuring possibly one dozens others. ABC 13 reports that local law enforcement officials have identified that the shooting came at the hands of 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis.
The attack on the high school began between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. central standard time. Although media outlet are reporting between eight and 10 deaths at the school, the casualty tool may rise as emergency respondents and law enforcement officials survey the carnage.
Furthermore, the New York Post reports that explosive devices have been found inside the high school upon police entering and securing the area. Local Santa Fe police are also searching a mobile home near the school for other possible explosive devices tied to the earlier shooting.
Early reports claim that pipe bombs and a pressure cooker were found at the school.
“There have been explosive items found in the high school and outside the high school,” Santa Fe Independent School District Police Chief Walter Braun said at a press conference following the tragedy.
“Because of this, everyone should be on the lookout for suspicious items and anything that looks out of place,” he added.
When interviewed by local news outlets, some students reported seeing the shooter throwing explosives into a classroom.
Braun said that at least six were transported to area medical centers, including one police officer.
In addition to Pagourtzis, one other person has been taken into custody for further questioning.
President Donald Trump addressed the shooting a few hours later at a press conference at the White House. “We’re with you in this tragic hour, and we’ll be with you forever,” he said.
There is no word if the shooter was a student at the school at this time. There are also no reports indicating if the shooting will be considered an “act of terror.”
