According to a Texas state lawmaker, investigators informed the mom of one Uvalde school shooting victim that her little girl may have lived if cops had entered the classroom quicker.
State Sen. Ronald Gutierrez, a Democrat from Uvalde, spoke about the deceased youngster who was one of 19 school students and two instructors shot by the 18-year-old shooter on March 24.
Gutierrez stated that mom informed him that one bullet had gone through her child’s back, past the kidney area. The first responder they ultimately spoke with stated that their kid had most certainly bled out. That tiny kid may have survived that extra 30 or 40 minutes.
In at least 12 cases, authorities have altered the description of how law enforcement responded to the incident.
“I inquired with (the Department of Public Safety) as to when each of their policemen came. When, if ever, should the local police take operational control? When does or should the next greater power, DPS, assume operational control? Finally, the federal authorities delayed some time as well,” Gutierrez explained.
Local authorities first said they reacted to the incident “within minutes.” According to officials, it took between 40 minutes and an hour for the gunman to access the grounds and be shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent. According to officials, the shooter’s rampage inside the school lasted 78 minutes.
“So, definitely, these errors might have resulted in the deaths of these kids as well,” Gutierrez said on Sunday.
"The issue with operational control is of significant concern to me."
— CNN (@CNN) May 29, 2022
Texas State Senator @RolandfForTexas speaks with @DanaBashCNN on what he's learned about the decisions made by the police department in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/SPKgMaFlEw
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw stated on Friday that the on-scene commander during the attack was Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo. McCraw claimed Arredondo made the incorrect decision to delay authorities from entering the classroom where the shooter was firing.
Gutierrez stated that he had spoken with McCraw about putting all of the burden on Arredondo. When questioned if any officials on the scene opposed Arredondo’s judgment at the time, Gutierrez answered, “Sadly, no.”
Gutierrez stated it’s not fair to blame the local ISD policeman. At the end of the day, everyone here failed. They let these kids down. They even let them down in the Texas legislature.
Gutierrez urged for a special legislative session to discuss gun regulation during a news conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
