Frantic parents implored law enforcement to intervene during the Uvalde school shooting, graphic footage indicates
In the tragic events of May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a gunman opened fire, resulting in the deaths of 19 students and 2 teachers [1][4][5]. The ensuing law enforcement response has been under scrutiny, with the release of documents and police body camera videos highlighting delays and confusion.
Nearly 400 officers, including local, state, and federal agents, remained outside the school for over 70 minutes while children and teachers were trapped inside, some calling 911 for help [4]. The delay in confronting the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, has been widely condemned and is the subject of criminal charges against the Uvalde schools police chief, Pete Arredondo, and Adrian Gonzales, another former school district officer [1][2].
Initially, the police chief and responding officers believed the situation had transitioned from an active shooter to a barricaded suspect, leading to a delay in entering the classrooms where the shooter was barricaded [1][3]. Officers can be seen on body camera footage tucked in recesses in the hallway, with one outside the building saying: "They are taking him out. Stand by." [4]
However, investigations later found no evidence that the classroom door was locked [4]. At one point, Arredondo is seen on body camera sending another officer to get a master key. The gunman's mother reportedly told deputies she was scared of him, and he was arguing with her over Wi-Fi and broken video game equipment [4].
The release of these documents and videos comes after a legal battle over public access. Media organizations, including The Associated Press, sued the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and Uvalde County in 2022 for the release of their records [6]. A Texas appeals court in July upheld a lower court's ruling that the records must be made public [6].
The Department of Justice review later cited "cascading failures" in the handling of the massacre [3]. Despite active shooter training emphasizing immediate action, the response to the Uvalde school shooting was marked by delays and confusion [3]. The trial for Arredondo and Gonzales on charges of child endangerment and abandonment is scheduled for later this year [1][2].
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2022, August 11). Timeline: How law enforcement responded to Uvalde school shooting. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uvalde-school-shooting-timeline-law-enforcement-response/
[2] Associated Press. (2022, August 10). 2 Uvalde officers charged with child endangerment, abandonment. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-education-crime-children-lawsuits-courts-6b5f03e31a970191f70557505971452d
[3] Associated Press. (2022, March 24). DOJ review of Uvalde school shooting cites 'cascading failures.' Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-education-crime-school-shootings-school-safety-6b09d70a4e4903c04a371228d228761a
[4] Associated Press. (2022, August 9). Uvalde school shooting: Police body camera videos show desperate parents begging to storm school. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-education-crime-school-shootings-school-safety-6b09d70a4e4903c04a371228d228761a
[5] Associated Press. (2022, May 24). Uvalde school shooting: Gunman kills 19 students, 2 teachers. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-education-crime-school-shootings-school-safety-6b09d70a4e4903c04a371228d228761a
[6] Associated Press. (2022, July 28). Texas appeals court: Uvalde school shooting records must be released. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-education-crime-school-shootings-school-safety-6b09d70a4e4903c04a371228d228761a
The delay in confronting the Uvalde school shooter led to a legal battle over public access to records, with media organizations suing for the release of documents related to the incident. The Department of Justice later cited "cascading failures" in the handling of the massacre, drawing attention to the need for immediate action in active shooter situations. The trial for the school district's police chief and another former officer, charged with child endangerment and abandonment, is currently scheduled for later this year.
