Uvalde, Texas – Parents of children tragically killed in the Uvalde school shooting showed their frustration and dismay during a city council meeting when an investigator hired by the city defended the police response to the mass shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022.
The investigator, Jesse Prado from Austin, acknowledged the numerous failures of the 400 police and law enforcement officers present that day but stated that they did not violate policies, despite delaying more than an hour to confront the shooter who claimed the lives of 19 young students and two teachers. This assertion prompted emotional responses from the grieving parents, with one mother, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, questioning the notion of “good faith” in light of the lengthy wait during the crisis.
Prado commended the officers for their composure and strategic decision-making under immense pressure while facing an armed shooter with an AR-style rifle, choosing not to fire into a darkened classroom. However, the families of the victims criticized both the report and the city council for what they perceived as inadequate accountability and justice.
The report highlighted deficiencies in communication, active shooter training, equipment shortages, and delays in reaching the classroom where the shooter was located. It also noted that the Uvalde Police Department’s SWAT team had not consistently trained since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that adherence to standard practices in active shooter situations could have prevented further loss of life. Following the aftermath of the shooting, several officers, including school police chief Pete Arredondo, lost their jobs, although no criminal charges have been filed. Ulvade District Attorney Christina Mitchell is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the law enforcement response, with some officers and officials called upon to testify.