Amid growing pressure, including from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a video of the scene inside the Uvalde elementary school where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers was obtained by the Austin American-Statesman before it was released to the public.
You can WATCH the edited video at the link, but note that it's disturbing. See it on the Statesman HERE.
While in Dallas for a conference, Abbott added his voice to the many who had demanded that the video inside Robb Elementary School be released.
"I'm on the side of full disclosure of all the information to ensure that everybody in Uvalde will know exactly what happened. And it must be done quickly" said Abbott.
Before the Stateman posted their exclusive, officials said the video would be released on Sunday, first to the Uvalde community, then to the public. It's unclear why that seems to have changed.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw expressed his disappointment in a statement following the release of the video.
“I am deeply disappointed this video was released before all of the families who were impacted that day and the community of Uvalde had the opportunity to view it as part of Chairman Dustin Burrows’ plan. Those most affected should have been among the first to see it. As I stated during my testimony before the Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans, this video provides horrifying evidence that the law enforcement response to the attack at Robb Elementary on May 24 was an abject failure. In law enforcement, when one officer fails, we all fail,” McCraw said.
Texas State Representative Dustin Burrows, who chairs the House committee investigating the shooting, earlier said the committee will meet Sunday afternoon and provide people there an opportunity to watch the video. The video will then be released to the general public afterwards.
“This video would be of the hallway footage from Robb elementary school – it would contain no graphic images or depictions of violence," Burrows said, according to The Guardian.
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin has said he supports the release of a 77-minute hallway video, but does not want any audio from inside of the classrooms to be released.
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