美国国家公共电台 NPR--The mass shooting in Texas is the latest tragic news involving a school

The mass shooting in Texas is the latest tragic¹ news involving a school

Transcript²

A gunman opened fire Tuesday at a rural elementary school in Uvalde. At least 21 people have been killed — 19 children and two adults.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

If you're just waking up, the death toll³ is now 21 from an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. An 18-year-old opened fire at the rural elementary school there. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán is the Texas capital reporter for NPR's the Texas Newsroom. And he's going to bring us up to date from Austin. Welcome to the program.

SERGIO MART?NEZ-BELTR?N, BYLINE⁴: Good morning.

INSKEEP: What is known so far? Just give us the best facts you got.

MART?NEZ-BELTR?N: Yeah. Like you said, unfortunately, the number of the victims has increased. We have 19 children and two adults who are confirmed dead. We also know that the gunman died. Now, because it's an elementary school, Robb Elementary, we know that the students are in second, third and fourth grade. Some of the children, you know, had even received awards prior to the shooting for having good grades. So it's very sad. And we also know that of the two adults, at least one was a teacher at this school.

INSKEEP: Can you tell us about the setting? I've been reading now about Uvalde and see references to the Texas Hill Country. It seems like a small place. What's it like?

MART?NEZ-BELTR?N: Yeah, it is a small place, about 83 miles west of San Antonio. You know, it's about 16 people, so small town. Now, it's very diverse. It's 73% Hispanic. And it's the type of community where people know everyone. And we're seeing that on social media, Steve, you know? We're seeing that people have been posting these memorials about their loved ones. And it seems like everyone is connected with everyone in this community. The school district is also very diverse, as well as the elementary school.

INSKEEP: Yeah, if I just think about 16,000 people, probably a lot of families had somebody in that elementary school. If they did not actually lose someone, they are talking to someone who survived. I mentioned the gunman is 18 - was 18. What more is known about his movements on the way to the school?

MART?NEZ-BELTR?N: Yeah. So Governor Greg Abbott said that the gunman was also a resident of Uvalde, so he was part of the community. Now, it's been a little confusing and, I think, also, like, a little shocking to hear the details about what happened prior to the school shooting. So authorities say that before going into the school, the gunman shot his grandmother and then drove and crashed in a ditch near the school district. You know, he exited the car. And then he was engaged by law enforcement. But still, the suspect was able to enter the school. And then we know what happened, you know, he started shooting there.

INSKEEP: I just want to make sure that I'm clear on this. We said 21 dead. I understand from other reporting it's not clear if that includes the gunman, who was killed by police. Does - is it clear if it includes the grandmother or not?

MART?NEZ-BELTR?N: The last thing we know - we knew about the grandmother was that she was unclear. What we do know is that 19 children, two adults - and that's in addition to the gunman, who also died.

INSKEEP: OK. OK. OK, so 21 victims that we know of at this point. Very briefly⁵, how are officials responding?

MART?NEZ-BELTR?N: You know, there's been a lot of pain, you know? It's been a real tragedy. And, of course, when you think about the families of those killed, it's hard. We've heard from the school superintendent⁶ at Uvalde, who talked about how he was heartbroken and said the community needs prayers, that's the only way they can get through this. But there's also been a lot of frustration⁷. We do know that Governor Abbott signed a bill last year that allows Texas residents - most Texas residents to carry a gun without a license⁸. So many folks have said something needs to be done.

INSKEEP: Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of Texas Newsroom. Thank you so much.

MART?NEZ-BELTR?N: Thank you.

1 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

6 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

7 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

8 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。