At least eight dead in Texas high school shooting

CHICAGO: At least eight people were killed when a male student opened fire at a Texas high school, a local sheriff said, as President Donald Trump expressed his “heartbreak” over the “horrific” shooting.

The incident took place at Santa Fe High School in the city of the same name, located about 50km southeast of Houston.

“There are multiple fatalities,” the sheriff of Harris County, Ed Gonzalez, told a news briefing yesterday.

“There could be anywhere between eight and 10, the majority being students.”

The male teen suspect in custody was not immediately identified. A second possible person of interest was being questioned, Gonzalez told reporters.

A sombre Trump, who was speaking at an event on prison reform at the White House, expressed “sad- ness and heartbreak” over the deadly shooting spree.

“This has been going on too long in our country,” Trump said. “We’re with you in this tragic hour.”

The shooting erupted before 8am, as the school day was beginning.

“There was someone that walked in with a shotgun and started shooting, and this girl got shot in the leg,” an eyewitness identified as Nikki told local television station KTRK.

She said students fled the school in a panic, and several other students told local media they heard multiple gunshots.

Police also said they have located what they suspect may be explosive devices at the high school.

“Possible explosive devices have been located at the school and off campus,” the Santa Fe school district tweeted.

“Law enforcement is in the process of rendering them safe. School has been evacuated.” — AFP