Hudson Valley Police Step Up Presence At Schools After Texas Massacre

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Law enforcement across the Hudson Valley said they will be boosting their patrols of all schools in the wake of Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

There are 19 children and two adults dead in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The gunman was also killed in the shooting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott identified the shooter as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, of Uvalde. Ramos shot his grandmother before entering the school, according to reports.

There have not been any threats to Hudson Valley schools reported, but both police departments and school districts across the region said they are stepping up security.

"Once again, we are struggling to process an unspeakable horror at one of our nation’s schools. As a nation and as a community, we mourn with the Ulvalde, Texas school district, families, and everyone impacted by the tremendous loss of 21 students and teachers," New Rochelle Superintendent Jonathan Raymond said in a statement released Wednesday morning. "Our security teams remain on high alert and the New Rochelle Police Department has increased patrols around our schools."

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"WCPD will be increasing patrols on Wednesday in the school districts where we have School Resource Officers assigned (Somers, North Salem, Lakeland and Hendrick Hudson), Westchester County police officials said. "These additional officers will supplement the safety and security provided by our SROs. In addition, we will deploy additional Patrol and Emergency Service Unit officers to be available in any community as needed."

"We work hand-in-hand with the Ossining Police Department and with our staff on issues of safety and security, and together, we are constantly refining our security procedures and regularly practicing our emergency drills (including lockdown and fire drills) with our students," the Ossining School District reported.

"There will be an increased police presence at our schools today," the City of Rye Police Department said. "Our hearts and minds are with those affected by yesterday’s senseless tragedy. While there is no specific threat to our schools or community, we want to make sure our students, educators, and parents feel safe at school."

Peekskill, Clarkstown, Port Chester, Harrison, Mount Vernon, Bedford and Mount Kisco schools will all have stepped up police patrols and increased campus security in effect, although students and families were told that the schools have not been the target of specific threats.

It is believed the Uvalde shooter acted alone, Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District chief of police, said Tuesday afternoon.

Arredondo said the shooting started at 11:32 a.m. Tuesday at a building for second, third and fourth graders and confirmed there were multiple deaths and injuries. All campuses in the district were placed under lockdown.

"My heart was broken today," Uvalde CISD Superintendent Hal Harrell said at a news conference Tuesday night.

The rest of the school year was canceled, including extracurricular activities. Information on graduation will be released at a later time, Harrell said. The last day of school for the district was scheduled for Thursday.