The grandfather of the Texas shooter talked to the media about his grandson and how the family never suspected that Ramos could do such a thing. The grandfather says they had no idea that Ramos knew how to drive or he bought weapons on his 18th birthday. The grandfathers say that the reality of this incident still hasn't sunk in for them yet.
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The grandfather of the suspected Texas shooter who took 21 innocent lives claims that their family had no idea that their grandson had bought guns.
A tragic incident took place on Monday, 24 May, when a gunman named Salvador Ramos opened fire inside a Texas elementary school in Uvalde and claimed the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers.
Ramos was shot dead at the scene by police.
Now, Ramos's grandfather, 72-year-old Rolando Reyes, has spoken out about the incident and told local media that their family has no idea that Ramos had bought two guns as soon as he turned 18.
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According to official reports, as soon as Ramos turned 18 on May 16, he bought two AR-15 rifles and 375 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, according to law enforcement and Texas state Senator John Whitmire.
Police also revealed that the teenager bought the weapons from the Oasis Outback store, located 10 minutes from his grandmother's house in Uvalde.
One gun cost him $1,870, according to a screenshot of a post on social networking site Yubo, as per The Daily Dot.
Three days before the attack, a photograph of two AR15-style rifles also appeared on an Instagram account that has been tied to the suspect.
The guns were noted as being legal purchases.
ABC News/ Alamy
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Investigation into Ramos's personal life revealed that the shooter had been living with this grandparents due to problems between him and his mother.
Reyes claims that neither he nor Ramos's grandmother, 66-year-old Celia Martinez, had any idea their grandson had purchased the guns.
The grandfather told ABC News he would have 'reported' his grandson if he had known – particularly as he himself has a record that means he can't be around guns.
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The grandfather also told the local media that he and his wife noted nothing unusual in Ramos's behavior on the morning of the fatal incident.
Reyes reflected on his grandson as not violent, but 'very quiet'. He answered: "Yes," when ABC's Matt Gutman asked if Ramos spent a lot of time in his room alone.
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The grandfather also shared that he noticed that his grandson wasn't a big fan of school and in fact seemed dismissive of any encouragement to get him to attend.
"He didn't go to school [...] You'd tell him, but [...] kids nowadays think they know everything," Reyes said.
ABC News/ Alamy
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Ramos also didn't have a driver's license and didn't even know how to drive, according to the grandfather.
Reyes also questioned how his grandson had learnt to use such guns.
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Prior to driving to the school, Ramos reportedly shot his grandmother in the head. She is said to be undergoing surgery today (25 May).
Reyes concluded: "It still hasn't sunk in yet."