Police in Uvalde, Texas, responded to a suspected gang-related shooting at a park on Thursday that left at least two juveniles injured.
The juveniles who were wounded are recovering at San Antonio hospitals while Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said police are searching for two to three juvenile suspects, according to KSAT 12.
The call reporting a shooting came in at 5:30 p.m. local time, Uvalde police said in a statement posted to Facebook, which also noted that three hours later, the victims’ condition was unknown.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it was assisting in the investigation of what is suspected to be a gang-related shooting. Uvalde police encouraged anyone who may have relevant information, video, or photos to reach out to its criminal investigative division at 830-278-9147 or by private Facebook message.
Just spoke to the Uvalde Mayor he tells us – it was a rival gang shooting. 2 people were hit and airlifted to San Antonio, they were conscious when taken. They’re looking for 2-3 suspects at this time. @ksatnews https://t.co/w1ze3tUmdP
— John Paul Barajas (@KSATJohnPaul) September 9, 2022
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) also released a statement.
“I was outraged to learn that gang violence has endangered the Uvalde community and innocent Texans this evening,” the governor said. “I immediately called Mayor McLaughlin and County Judge Mitchell to offer the state’s full support and resources as law enforcement hunts down the gang members.
“After speaking with the mayor and the county judge about the immediate need for more law enforcement support, I have directed the Department of Public Safety to conduct patrol operations in the gang hotspots, send an additional six DPS trooper units to work around the clock, and begin coordinating an anti-gang effort with the city,” he continued. “Working with the Uvalde Police Department and Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, DPS is also deploying Special Agents to target the five gangs operating in Uvalde.”
“Thank you to all local and state law enforcement and first responders who swiftly went into action to protect their fellow Texans,” he added. “Gang violence has no place here in Texas, and we will bring the full force of justice down on these heinous criminals.”
The shooting comes months after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a town with a population of about 16,000, that left 19 students and two teachers dead. The shooter, identified as an 18-year-old, was killed by law enforcement over an hour after the shooting began.
The school district fired its police chief, Pete Arredondo, in late August after he stepped down from his City Council position in July.
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Tuesday was the first day back at school for students.
Robb Elementary is permanently closed and set to be demolished. Students were redistributed among the three other elementary schools in the city, ABC reported.
