TV news outlets have moved away from covering Pres. Trump, the Royal Wedding, to cover a school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, a Southeast Texas town between Houston and Galveston. According to local authorities, 10 people are dead, 10 are wounded. The Harris County, Texas Sheriff is reporting that a 17 year-old student named Dimitrios Pagourtzis is in custody and another student has been detained.
One witness said a gunman walked into an art class between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. local time and opened fire with what appeared to be a shotgun, she told KTRK, the Houston ABC affiliate.
“It is with great sadness that I stand here to share with you that we experienced an unthinkable tragedy at our high school this morning. We are grieving the loss of members of our SFISD family,” said the Santa Fe school district superintendent.
Graduation was supposed to be tomorrow.
HLN’s Robin Meade noted reports of a school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas at 9:15 a.m. ET: “So right now reports of a school shooting possibly in Santa Fe, Texas, and right now that is all I can tell you. we don’t know was anybody injured and if it’s on lock down, do they have a shooter in place? We’ll continue to follow that for you.” She went back to other news.
CNN’s Poppy Harlow reported the breaking news about an active shooter at 9:19 a.m. ET. CNN correspondent Polo Sandoval and CNN senior law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes joined Harlow.
Bill Hemmer at 9:21 a.m. ET for Fox News: “Breaking news right now from out of Texas trying to run down this story. There was an active shooter at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas. The district has initiated a lock down. What is happening inside we do not know but we’re working our information there. Working our sources and fill you in on what we can say in a moment right after this break…”
Ali Velshi for MSNBC at 9:23 a.m. ET. “A spokesman for the police confirms authorities are investigating an active shooter situation at the school. The district has initiated a lock down. It is not clear at this point if anyone has been injured. We’re working to get more information…” began Velshi.
MSNBC’s Chris Jansing is en route to Texas.
Anne-Marie Green has been anchoring CBSN coverage. The streaming service has been going back and forth between showing local news coverage of the shooting on KHOU, the Houston CBS affiliate, and Green in New York.
CBS News produced a special report anchored by Jim Axelrod at 11:11 a.m. ET. Axelrod was joined in-studio by CBS News law enforcement Paul Viola.
NBC News produced a special report anchored by Lester Holt at 11:15 a.m. ET. NBC News justice correspondent Pete Williams joined Holt.
At 11:41 a.m. Holt anchored an NBC News Special Report as President Trump addressed the school shooting during an event at the White House. Trump had just announced that acting VA Sec. Robert Wilkie as nominee to lead the VA.
ABC News anchored a special report beginning at 11:24 a.m. with Nightline Co-anchor Dan Harris anchoring. The second special report aired beginning at 12:43 p.m. anchored by Harris with reporting from White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega, senior justice correspondent Pierre Thomas, and contributor Brad Garrett. ABC News planning a third special report for the Gov. Abbott presser.
ABC chief national affairs correspondent Tom Llamas and correspondent Marcus Moore will be reporting from Santa Fe tonight.
CBS Evening News anchor Jeff Glor tweeted he’s en route to Texas to cover the shooting.
On the way to Texas to cover the shooting at Sante Fe High School
— Jeff Glor (@jeffglor) May 18, 2018
Lester Holt is going down to Texas as well.
En route to Texas to cover the Santa Fe High School shooting. Watch @NBCNightlyNews tonight for more.
Get the latest updates here: https://t.co/0F2SLXLCA6 @NBCNews
— Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) May 18, 2018
And Pres. Trump:
“We grieve for the terrible loss of life and send our support and love to everyone affected by this absolutely horrific attack. To the students, families, teachers, and personnel at Santa Fe High, we’re with you at this tragic hour…” pic.twitter.com/kyjs1tWYUD
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 18, 2018
At 12:15 p.m. ET (11:15 a.m. local time), the Santa Fe Independent School District reported “explosive devices” have been found on and off campus.
UPDATE: Santa Fe school district says possible explosive devices have been located at the school and off campus; law enforcement is in the process of rendering them safe https://t.co/oqRZUFvJK4 pic.twitter.com/0H7MVAq90G
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 18, 2018
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is en route to Santa Fe, and will give a presser at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET).
At 12:29 p.m. ET, Craig Melvin anchored an NBC News Special Report as local officials briefed on the latest updates on the shooting.
