South Central Reporter

Illinois state Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) recently voiced her shock and sadness over the violence at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Nineteen students and two teachers lost their lives at the school on Tuesday when a man walked into a classroom and started shooting. The New York Times reported on Thursday that authorities were still trying to put together a timeline of the events. The first report of a gunman approaching the school came around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. By the time 18-year-old Salvador Ramos was killed after 1 p.m., he had shot and killed 21 people.

"My heart is heavy this evening," Scherer wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. "No innocent child or hardworking educator should ever experience what the children and faculty of Robb Elementary experienced today. As a former educator, I can't imagine. The loss is unimaginable. School is the one place we should all feel safe. My prayers are with not only the families of those whose lives were lost, but with every witness and community member."

Scherer visited teachers at South Shores Elementary School earlier that day. 

"'We Love our Teachers' is my motto for the week!" she said on Facebook. "For many, this is the last week of school! Keep going! You're almost there! I very much enjoyed my visit to South Shores Elementary!"

An additional 17 people were wounded in the shooting, and the gunman was killed by law enforcement, according to an NPR report.