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Nineteen young children and two adults have died in a shooting at a primary school in south Texas, BBC News reports.

The gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School - which teaches children aged seven to 10 - in the city of Uvalde before he was killed by law enforcement, officials said.

The 18-year-old suspect had a handgun, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazines, investigators say.

The teenager is suspected of shooting his grandmother before the rampage.

Local media report he may have been a high school student in the area.

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief of Police Pete Arredondo said the shooting began at 11:32 local time on Tuesday, and that investigators believe the attacker "did act alone during this heinous crime".

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the shooter, whom he named as Salvador Ramos, abandoned a vehicle before entering the school to "horrifically, incomprehensibly" open fire.

Two children killed in the shooting have been identified by US media. Family members confirmed the deaths of 10-year-olds Xavier Lopez and Amerie Jo Garza in statements on Tuesday night.

Nearly 500 pupils are enrolled in the predominantly Hispanic school around 85 miles (135km) west of the city of San Antonio.

US President Joe Biden has vowed to act on the country's gun laws after the mass school shooting, ABC News reports.

"As a nation we have to ask, when in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?" he said, speaking at the White House. "When in God's name — what we all know we need to do in our gut — do what needs to be done? I am sick and tired of it. We have to act. Don't tell me we can't have an impact on this carnage."