Texas, May 18: Between eight and 10 people died in a school shooting on Friday in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, a sheriff told the media.

The shooting began shortly after 7.30 a.m., at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of neighbouring Harris County, said, Efe reported.

"There are multiple fatalities that have been confirmed," Gonzalez said, adding: "The number varies but it could be anywhere between eight and 10 fatalities at the school, including students and some adult staff as well."

"There was also an injured Santa Fe ISD (Independent School District) police officer... that's being treated at a hospital. I don't know the extent of his injuries," the sheriff said.

Gonzalez also told the reporters that one suspect was in custody and that a second "possible person of interest" also had been detained.

He said police were combing the school to make sure no additional students were injured or hiding and that no explosive devices were on the premises.

President Donald Trump commented on the shooting on Twitter. "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!" he wrote.

Gun violence is a major political issue in the US

Trump said in a speech at the National Rifle Association's annual leadership meeting in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month that the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects citizens' right to bear arms, would never be "under siege" while he is president.

Speaking about a February mass shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people, Trump said the solution was to allow "highly trained teachers to carry concealed weapons" in the classroom.

The President also said then that making schools gun-free zones was an invitation to mentally disturbed people to "come in and take us".

 

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Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday raised questions over maintenance of the Taj Mahal in Agra and attacked the Yogi Adityanath government saying it should be a "living and active" example, not just a "monument".

Yadav, who shared a viral video in which a plant could be seen sprouting from the dome of the Taj Mahal, said the monument might develop cracks due to the roots.

In a post on X, he said, "The BJP government and its dormant departments have completely failed to maintain the Taj Mahal, the wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world."

Yadav went on to say, "There is a possibility of rusting of the metal of the urn on the main dome. Water is dripping from the main dome. There is news of plants growing in the dome. If the roots of trees like these grow, then the Taj Mahal may crack."

He also highlighted problems of monkey menace and water logging in the Taj Mahal complex.

"The Taj Mahal complex has become a sanctuary for monkeys. There is a problem of waterlogging in the Taj Mahal complex. The tourists are worried whether they should admire the Taj Mahal or deal with the problems," Yadav said, adding due to all these reasons, the country's image is tarnished at the global level. ⁠

Last week, the main dome of the Taj witnessed water seepage due to incessant rains but officials said there was no damage to the arched roof.

Yadav asked where crores of rupees of funds that come for the maintenance of Taj Mahal are going.

"The government should be a living and active example, not just a monument," he added.