Suspected elementary school shooter purchased firearms in Texas right after 18th birthday

The Texas high school student accused of shooting up a nearby elementary school purchased guns just as soon as he was legally able.

Salvador Ramos allegedly entered Robb Elementary School on Tuesday armed and wearing a tactical style vest, shortly after shooting his grandmother inside her home. Police said he then barricaded himself inside a classroom and opened fire, fatally striking two teachers and 19 students, all of them ages 10 and under.

The suspected gunman was ultimately killed by responding police officers, who later recovered a firearm from the scene. A second weapon was found in Ramos’ truck, which he crashed not far from the school in Uvalde, a small community of around 16,000, located about 50 miles outside San Antonio.

Salvador Ramos

Ramos allegedly purchased the first of two AR platform rifles on May 17, one day after his 18th birthday, a source told KPRC 2, citing information provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He returned to the store in Uvalde County the following day to buy 375 rounds of 5.56 ammunition and then again on May 20 to buy a second rifle.

“That was the first thing he did on his 18th birthday,” state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said.

In Texas, those who are 18 and older are allowed to legally purchase long guns, including shotguns and rifles.

“He had no problem accessing those weapons,” Gutierrez told CNN.

Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where 19 people, including 18 children, were killed on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. (Jordan Vonderhaar / Getty Images/)

While authorities have not confirmed these specific firearms were used in the shooting, the gun discovered inside Ramos’ vehicle matched a description of the second weapon he purchased. The so-called Daniel Defense rifle typically comes with a price tag around $2,000.

Authorities also discovered a backpack near the elementary school’s entrance with several magazines full of ammunition.

President Joe Biden during an emotional speech on Tuesday echoed Gutierrez’s concerns regarding Ramos’ access to the guns.

“The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons — it’s just wrong,” Biden said in the emotional speech. “What in God’s name do you need an assault weapon for, except to kill someone?”