The uncle of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooter who killed 19 students and two teachers pleaded with police to let him talk to his nephew in an attempt to persuade him to surrender. The shooter, identified as Salvador Ramos, was fatally shot by officials after the uncle called 911, expressing concern for his nephew’s well-being. The delayed law enforcement response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School, where nearly 400 officers waited over 70 minutes before confronting the gunman, has been widely criticized as a significant failure.
Investigations into the slow police response revealed issues in training, communication, leadership, and technology, leading to questions about the prioritization of officers’ lives over those of children and teachers during the school shooting. Former Uvalde school Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school officer Adrian Gonzales face criminal charges of child abandonment and endangerment, while a reinstated Texas state trooper in Uvalde was involved in the response.
Families of the victims have sought accountability for the slow police response, with some calling for more officers to face charges. Lawsuits have been filed against law enforcement, social media platforms, online gaming companies, and the gun manufacturer that made the rifle used in the shooting. The police response included Border Patrol agents, state police, and school and city officers, with a tactical team eventually entering the classroom and killing the shooter.
While video footage showed officers armed and waiting in the hallway during the shooting, a report commissioned by the city defended the actions of local police, commending their “immeasurable strength” and “level-headed thinking” during the crisis.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com