In Uvalde, Texas, the city officials released police videos and 911 calls from the tragic 2022 school shooting at Robb Elementary School that resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers. This release followed a legal battle initiated by The Associated Press and other news organizations after Uvalde officials initially withheld the documents concerning the shooting.
The response from law enforcement during the school massacre has faced severe criticism due to the delayed action, with almost 400 officers waiting over 70 minutes before engaging the gunman in a classroom where children and teachers lay injured and deceased. The incident, occurring on May 24, 2022, marked one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
Numerous federal and state investigations following the slow law enforcement response revealed significant issues with training, communication, leadership, and technology. Questions were raised regarding whether officers prioritized their safety over that of the children and teachers in the small South Texas city with roughly 15,000 residents located 80 miles west of San Antonio. The families of the victims have been seeking accountability for the delayed police intervention.
As a result of the investigations, two former officers, Uvalde school Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school officer Adrian Gonzales, are now facing criminal charges related to child abandonment and endangerment. Additionally, a Texas state trooper in Uvalde who was suspended has been reinstated to duty.
Some families have pushed for further charges against other officers and have filed lawsuits at both the federal and state levels against law enforcement, social media platforms, online gaming companies, and the manufacturer of the rifle used by the gunman.
During the police response to the school shooting, a mix of nearly 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents, 91 state police officials, and school and city police were present. While officers deliberated in the hallway, students trapped inside the classroom made desperate 911 calls on their cellphones, pleading for assistance, and outside, parents begged the officers to intervene. Eventually, a tactical team entered the classroom and neutralized the shooter.
Although previously released footage from school cameras depicted officers armed with rifles and protective gear waiting in the hallway, a report commissioned by the city defended the local police’s actions, commending their “immeasurable strength” and sound judgment in the face of gunfire, highlighting their decision to refrain from shooting into the darkened classroom to prevent further harm.
