Uvalde, Texas – An Austin-based investigator, Jesse Prado, recently presented his findings at a special city council meeting in Uvalde, Texas, sparking controversy over his lack of active shooter training and his role in clearing local police officers involved in a tragic shooting.
According to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records, Prado, who led the independent investigation into the 2022 mass shooting in Uvalde, had no active shooter training during his 20 years with the Austin Police Department. Despite this lack of training, Prado cleared all Uvalde police officers of any wrongdoing in a shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers.
The City of Uvalde hired Prado in July 2022 to investigate the local police officers’ response to the incident. In his report presented in March, Prado stated that no officers violated department policies, leaving the city council to deliberate on whether to accept the findings.
Col. Steve McCraw of the Texas Department of Public Safety testified that there were enough officers on the scene to stop the gunman within minutes of entering the building but failed to do so promptly. McCraw labeled the officers’ delayed response as a significant failure that led to tragic consequences.
Parents of the victims have expressed frustration with the investigative process, with Brett Cross, who lost his 10-year-old son in the shooting, criticizing the hiring of an investigator without the necessary qualifications. Cross and other parents have urged local leaders to reject Prado’s findings and address the concerns raised by the investigation.
During a recent city council meeting, emotional pleas were made by parents seeking justice for their lost loved ones and calling for accountability within the local police force. The city’s response and handling of the investigation have raised doubts among the community, with allegations of a lack of transparency and empathy towards the victims’ families.
The resignation of the Uvalde mayor due to medical issues has added another layer of complexity to the situation, leaving victims’ families feeling unheard and overlooked by local officials. Despite these challenges, families continue to demand answers and justice for the tragic events that unfolded at Robb Elementary School.