(UVALDE, Texas) — Two victims have been air-lifted to San Antonio Memorial Hospital following a shooting Thursday in Uvalde, Texas, police said.
The Uvalde Police Department said it responded to a shooting “with injured victims” at Uvalde Memorial Park around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
This was a suspected gang-related shooting, the Texas Department of Public Safety said, adding that it was working with the police department and sheriff’s office.
“This information is preliminary, as the situation develops we will work with local law enforcement to provide updates,” DPS said.
San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT reported that police said two juveniles have been hospitalized following the shooting, and authorities are looking for a juvenile suspect.
Authorities said it’s “not a dangerous situation for the general public,” KSAT reported.
Uvalde police advised residents to avoid the area.
More than three months ago, on May 24, 19 students and two teachers were killed in a shooting massacre at Robb Elementary School. Just this week, on Tuesday, students returned to the classroom for the school year.
“I was outraged to learn that gang violence has endangered the Uvalde community and innocent Texans this evening,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement Thursday night. “I immediately called Mayor [Don] McLaughlin and County Judge [William] Mitchell to offer the state’s full support and resources as law enforcement hunts down the gang members.”
The governor said he directed DPS to “conduct patrol operations in the gang hotspots,” and send six additional trooper units and begin an anti-gang effort in Uvalde.
“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,” he added. “Thank you to all local and state law enforcement and first responders who swiftly went into action to protect their fellow Texans. Gang violence has no place here in Texas, and we will bring the full force of justice down on these heinous criminals.”
ABC News’ Kate Holland and Matthew Fuhrman contributed to this report.
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