A Texas House of Representatives committee established to investigate the tragic mass shooting murder of 21 people, mostly children, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, last month met Thursday.
Soon after commencing the meeting at around 9 a.m., the committee went into executive session quickly to begin examining witnesses.
In a June 3 press release, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican, announced the “Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting” would conduct an examination into the massacre. During the May 24 shooting, 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos fatally shot 19 children and two teachers, He injured others.
Following reports that law enforcement officials waited over an hour to enter the classrooms where the victims were barricaded, there has been criticism from the public, media and politicians.
Days after the shooting, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would conduct an incident review of the shooting at the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin. An incident review update was announced Wednesday.
Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows was selected to be the chair of the Texas investigation committee, Democratic Rep. Joe Moody, was selected to be the vice chair and Eva Guzman, and former Texas Supreme Court justice, is a member.
“Our children’s lives are on the line—that’s why this committee is so important,” said Moody of the investigation, according to KENS 5.
“The fact we still do not have an accurate picture of what exactly happened in Uvalde is an outrage,” Phelan said. “Every day, we receive new information that conflicts with previous reports, making it not only difficult for authorities to figure out next steps, but for the grieving families of the victims to receive closure. I established this investigative committee for the dedicated purpose of gathering as much information and evidence as possible to help inform the House’s response to this tragedy and deliver desperately needed answers to the people of Uvalde and the State of Texas.”
Tasks assigned to the committee include “collecting and analyzing evidence from law enforcement, making comprehensive findings, and reporting its conclusions as soon as possible to help inform the work of the House.” It possesses the power of subpoena, is authorized to conduct depositions and to initiate discovery.
According to the Fort-Worth Star Telegram, Burrows previously said the committee would be interviewing members of the Texas Department of Public Safety in addition to reviewing physical evidence.
“Further details about who they would examine were not released at the time,” said the outlet, which noted that Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw was among those in the room before the committee broke for executive session Thursday.
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