The Texas Department of Public Safety provided an update on the Uvalde school shooting response.
They had plenty of officers, they had the equipment, but the police who were in the Robb Elementary school were being held back by an incident commander who got it wrong, according to DPS director Steve McCraw.
“Of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. There was no excuse for that. We believe there should’ve been entry as soon as you can” said McCraw.
For the first time, the Department of Public Safety is admitting to disastrous failures in the shooting. It started with what appears to be an honest mistake; a police officer driving past the shooter on the outside of the school, because he was looking at the wrong person while responding.
But then it turned into a nightmare. As Salvador Ramos first made his way into the school, he was followed by 19 police officers.
Officials say for almost an hour they were restrained from doing anything by an incident commander, the school district chief of police, who made the fatal decision not to breach the classroom doors even as children on the inside of the classroom were calling 911 pleading for help.
McCraw says the on-scene commander “considered it a barricaded subject situation,” rather than that of an active shooter. “Texas embraces and teaches active shooter doctrine. There was nuances with transitioning to a barricade and transitioning to a hostage situation.”
"We do know that he shot more than 100 rounds based on the audio evidence at that time. At least 100 rounds," said McCraw, adding that the shooter had previously purchased over 1,600 rounds of ammunition.
Video loaded on social media shows parents confronting law enforcement personnel on May 24, outside the school, screaming and pleading with officers to go inside the school and confront the 18 year old gunman.
Instead the officers were allegedly trying to prevent parents from intervening themselves.
Parents are furious with police for their inaction and many are demanding an investigation.
In all 19 children and 2 adults were slaughtered.
Related
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
