Before he realizes it was gun shots. Another student said he felt totally helpless. Watch him. We had one student even say that she was surprised she was not surprised but she was scared. This by the way is the seventh School Shooting this year and the second deadliest since the Marjory Stoneman massacre where 17 died. Casey stegall is in santa fe. The governor casey, stand by. We have Governor Greg Abbott returning. We were told senator cruz was coming. But heres the governor. Im the county judge of Galveston County, texas. Were unfortunately here because of a tragic event that occurred this morning at Santa Fe High School. Fortunately for us, we did have a Rapid Response from a lot of state and u. S. Leaders. Theyre down here now. We spent time briefing the governor, the Lieutenant Governor, senator cruz and other elected officials this morning. At this time ill pass it off to Governor Abbott. Judge, first, i want to thank you for your tireless efforts the past few hours to help your county respond to this. We appreciate you and your entire Team Stepping up and showing way to respond to what has to be probably the worst disaster ever to strike this community. Also want to express my gratitude to the other officials that are gathering with us here today. This is just the beginning of what will be robust response by both local, state and federal officials. We come together today as we deal with one of the most heinous attacks that weve seen in texas schools. Its impossible to describe the magnitude of the evil of someone who would attack innocent children in a school. A place of learning where parents should be able to send their children without fear for their childs safety. Its with a heavy heart that i can confirm that as of this time there have been ten lives that have been lost, and another ten that have been wounded. We grieve for the victims who lost their lives at Santa Fe High School. And we pray for the families that are suffering and will continue to suffer in the days to come. Nothing can prepare a parent for the loss of a child. This will be a long and painful time for these parents as they work their way through what has to be the greatest challenge they have ever dealt with. We mourn with them. We mourn as fellow texans. We must come together as one community at this time of enormous suffering and show the victims and their families the support they need and they deserve. We appreciate all the First Responders who have already stepped up to help respond to this challenge and we look to god. We look to god to give the First Responders as well as the victims and their families, the guidance they need in the coming days and weeks as we work to continue to get to the bottom of what happened and very importantly work to respond to this challenge. I ask the rest of the country to join texas in mourning the loss of these individuals, these students and to offer your prayers in support of these families. And i ask every parent out there, wherever you may be, to hold your children close tonight and let them know how much you love them. Now we have two goals going forward. The immediate goal is to work in the immediate aftermath of this catastrophe to gather the evidence and the information that is needed to ensure that this crime is going to be prosecuted appropriately while also working in tandem to ensure that we provide the families and victims as well as all the children a that this school and schools across the district with the support and resources and counselling they need. Second, we need to do more than just pray for the victims and their families. Its time that we take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again in the history of the state of texas. So beginning immediately, im going to be working with members of the Texas Legislature and also members of our communities across the entire state of texas to begin with roundtable discussions beginning next week where we will assemble all stakeholders to begin to work immediately on Swift Solutions to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. We want to hear from parents, we want to hear from students, we want to hear from educators and concerned citizens and those that hold a Second Amendment right. We want to hear from everybody that has an interest in what has happened today so we can Work Together on putting together laws that will protect Second Amendment rights and make sure our schools and communities are safer places. This includes things like speeding background checks. Include strategies to keep guns out of the happened of those that piece an immediate danger to others. That include providing more resources to our schools, to make sure that they have the safety personnel that can help protect their schools. Also means providing resources to reduce gun violence. It also means perhaps expanding a program in lubbock where they have ways of measuring Mental Health challenges of students and being able to identify those that may pose a risk and looking to deploy those strategies in School Districts across the state of texas. Listen, the fact of the matter is, in the fog of the aftermath of a catastrophe like this the a answers are not immediate. That said, i do want to cover the details of where we stand right now. Understanding we will be providing updates later. I mentioned those identified as being deceased and wounded. We will provide an update on that later on. Were still Law Enforcement is still in the process of undertaking both searches and investigation of the entire scene as well as other locations. There are warrants out concerning the person who is responsible for the shooting and they include warrants to search two residences, the reason why theres some slowness in being able to undertake these searchs is because of the potential for explosive devices to be found in these residences. They want to make sure theyre able to enter them without anybody being harmed. One reason why there is concern about explosive devices is that various different kinds of explosive devices have already been detected. One was a co2 device. Another one a molotov cocktail. Various other types of explosive devices found in a home and well as in a vehicle. Theres a search warrant out for a vehicle of the shooter, but again, care and caution is being undertaken to make sure that entry is not made in the vehicle in a way that could pose harm to the people that are trying to enter into it. We also know information already that the shooter has the information contained in journals on his computer and cell phone that he said that not only did he want to commit the shooting, but he wanted to commit suicide after the shooting. As you probably know, he gave himself up. Admitted that he didnt have the courage to commit the suicide that he wanted to take his own life earlier. Hes currently at the Santa Fe Police department. The Santa Fe Police department is working in collaboration on this investigation with the fbi, with the Texas Department of public safety, with the atf, with the galveston Police Department as well as the Galveston County sheriffs office. This is something that will be handled collaboratively by federal and state prosecutors. So youll know, there are one or two other people of interest that are currently being interviewed. One of the persons at the scene and we cannot definitively say whether or not this is a person that may have had some level of involvement in the crime, there was some suspicious reactions on the party of this person that we want to make sure this person is adequately investigated. Separate from that, theres another person where we have certain information that we want to make sure this person is fully interviewed to see if theres information to be gleaned from this other person who at this time will not be identified. As you probably have heard, the weapons used in this attack, theres two weapons. One was a shotgun and the other is a 38 revolver. Neither of these weapons were owned or legally possessed by the shooter. Its my information that both of these weapons were obtained by the shooter from his father. Its my information at this time that the federal legally owned these weapons. The father is not aware that the weapons were taken. I do want to thank all of the multitude of Law Enforcement agencies involved in this process. They include the Santa Fe Police department, galveston sheriffs office, Texas Department of public safety, league city Police Department. Mentioned the fbi as well as the atf. The galveston Police Department, Harris CountyPolice Department, pair land Police Department and houston metro Police Department. Two things that were working on as we speak. One is to make sure that parents are going to be notified as swiftly as possible. One thing that depends upon, how swiftly the crime scene will be dealt with with the concern being for the potential of explosive devices on the crime scene. That is something that can be worked out here in a very short period of time. Second very importantly is the necessity providing counsels to everybody involved. Certainly counselling for the families for any living victim and the entire Independent School district. I know resources are being provided by the county for that and also by the state. Well have whatever amount of counselors the School District needs. Ive had the opportunity to visit with the subject of the School District who has been quite helpful both in the investigation and also in the response. I thank her for her leadership. I received phone calls from the president , the Vice President and the secretary of Homeland Security and as well as the secretary of education. All have pledged whatever support texas needs in order to be able to adequately respond to this. One of the people helping us respond is one of the senators from the state of texas to the federal government. That is ted cruz who at this time will take the mic. Thank you, governor. Thank you for your strong leadership particularly in times of crisis. Once again, texas has seen the face of evil. What happened this morning here in santa fe defies words. The agony, the hell that parents of this community is going through is unimaginable. Every one as a parent that sends our sons or daughters off to school in the morning, to have this horror greet them. This community is grieving mightily and the entire state of texas, the entire country is grieving along with these parents, grieving with these students. Theres been too damn many of these. Texas has seen too many of these. Weve seen deranged bombers murdering innocent people or six months ago in southerland springs, another evil criminal murdering innocent people. Two weeks ago i was back in southerland springs at the dedication the rededication of that church on the six month anniversary of that horrific crime. The word of encouragement that i would give to the people of santa fe, as you deal with this unimaginable grief is that in the wake of this horror that community and this Community Came together, leaned on each other. Stood side by side with each other, cried on each others shoulders, prayed for each other. Helped each other stand up. I can tell you six months after the horror, there was hope and joy, grieve and mourning and loss but also hope and joy. Ill tell the people of santa fe, you are right now being lifted up after this incident in prayers by millions of people across texas, across the country and across the world. In the Public Policy arena, we need to do everything humanly possible from stopping this from happening again to stop violent criminals. To stop them from getting firearms. To stop them from getting access from cools. To incarcerate them when they try to illegally purchase firearms. In the days ahead, well discover more about this particular shooter, about what red flags, what warning signs there may have been or may not have been. Im sure well have robust conversation about what more could have been done to prevented this atrocity. Texas as a state will make it through this. This community will make it through it, leaning on each other, standing for each other, well make it through this. And we thank the incredible heros that we saw today. Those in Law Enforcement that rushed into hams way. Teachers, students. We know that were going to hear the bravery that manifested in the face of evil. Bravery that we know was done at least in some instances at great cost and great sacrifice including sacrifice of peoples own lives. So we celebrate that bravery that courage at the same time we grieve the horror of this mass murder. That id like to recognize dan patrick. Thank you, senator. Once again, thank you to Law Enforcement. We all pray to lift up these families and all of the students. What can we do now . One, if youre a parent and you own guns, lock your guns safely away. Your children should not be able or anyone else to get your legallyowned guns. Its a serious issue. One big step that we can take. Number 2, this school, santa fe School District was one of 186 schools that received a safety award for going through a program that the state administered out of over 1,000 School Districts. Dr. Wall and her staff had done everything that they could to protect these students. There were two officers assigned to the school and a roving officer. The chief was on his way to the school when the shots were fired. The chief was the first to fullback the first officer and returns fire. We may have to look at the design of our schools moving forward and retrofitting schools that are already built. Theres too many entrances and too many exits to over 8,000 campuses in texas. Over 8,000. Theres not enough people to put a guard at every entraps. If we can protect a Large Office Building or a courthouse or any major facility, maybe we need to look at limiting the exits and entrances into the school so we can have Law Enforcement looking at the people that come in, one or two entrances. Schools may have to have their start day, not all students show up at the same time. We have to be creative. For what we know, this student walked in with a long day and a shotgun under a coat. Its 90 degrees. If there was one entrance, maybe he might be stopped. It will take work and money but we need to do the work and the money to protect the children. We need to harden our schools and make them safer. Thats one of many issues. Thats why the governor is calling for the roundtable to discuss every option. This is not acceptable in the state of texas or in this country. This must end and we must do everything we can. We cant protect every parking lot, every stadium and every school. As a nation, we should look at the design of the schools. Let people that come on the campus and take innocent lives. The legislature will work side by side with the governor. We will act working with the federal government, we will act to do everything we can that this never ever happens again in texas. Our colonel, steve mccall from state police. Colonel . Thank you. I just want to underscore some points that the governor made. First and foremost, when you get these calls, every police, no matter where you are, has to immediately engage the active shooter, period. Theres no alternative. Every second means someone else will die. In this situation you had that. The brave officers, end School District here in santa fe, stepped up to the plate and engaged the person in Critical Condition. The other, the chief got there on scene. Rescued his officer and a texas state trooper engaged the suspect. Because they ran in, other lives have been saved. Thats important. In terms of the investigation, im going to defer to the special agent in charge of the fbi. I can tell you this, everything that can be done and will be done at the local state and federal level. Well get to the bottom of this. We have a statement from the subject right now that is important. Aga again, the subject is alive. That helps identify motive. Well continue to investigate. Good afternoon. Im terry turner from the houston fbi office. I want the say my hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the santa fe community. This is a tragedy. Id like to thank our federal, state, local partners for working this investigation with us. Its a joint effort. Every resource is being used. Were still in the process of gathering evidence, conducting several interviews, doing search warrants. The investigation is pending and ongoing. As far as information, once we receive the information, well introduce it to you. Because the investigation is ongoing, we need more information. Were still gathering it. Anyone with photos, videos or information on your phone, take them to the fbi texas city office. The address is 600 gulf freeway, suite 211 in texas city and anybody with Additional Information police call 800callfbi. Thank you for your help. Once again, we want to thank the heros, Law Enforcement