Police report a 40 to 60-minute delay in detaining an active shooter inside Robb Elementary School, Texas.
Highlights:
- Uvalde mass shooting response investigation to be taken over by Department of Justice.
- President Joe Biden to visit Robb Elementary in the coming days.
- More details about the shooter emerge through interviews and internet activity.
Uvalde: A mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas shows massive police inaction. The Guardian reports that teams of armed police officers waited outside the building for more than 60 minutes before entering. The 24th of May shooting is one of the hundreds of mass shootings in the US this year alone.
The Incident:
Salvador Ramos shot and severely wounded his grandmother before setting off in his grandfather’s vehicle. Firstly, Ramos began his tirade from outside the school building.
Reports suggest he began shooting through the windows of two classrooms before attempting to enter the building itself. He entered through a back door that was propped open into the main hallway carrying ammunition.
There, he entered and locked the doors of two adjoining classrooms 112 and 111.
Some students in the classroom reported “playing dead” to hide from the shooting as well as attempting to call 911. Irma Garcia, a teacher, died protecting her students. While some survived the incident, 19 students would perish. One of the deceased was found right next to Garcia, being held by her.
Irma Garcia’s husband passed away from a heart attack just days after the shooting. Family and friends say the stress of losing his wife of 24 years is the cause of his death. They leave behind 4 children.
The shooter:
Officials confirmed the death of 21 people including the shooting who had taken his own life. The 18-year old gunman barricaded himself in a classroom for at least 45 minutes after the incident.
Salvador Ramos, the shooting purchased brand new assault rifles just weeks before his crime.
His internet activity uncovers a violent and unstable character. Most notably, texts sent just hours before he shot his grandmother confirm intent to cause major harm. His activity on a live streaming app and Instagram show months of aggression towards young women, sending threats of violence regularly.
Ramos’s classmate, Ivan Arenello spoke to local news, dispelling reports that Ramos was bullied. He said that Ramos attempted to pick fights but often failed to do so. Arenello also mentioned that Ramos exhibited worrying behaviour towards animals.
Police response:
Reports suggest Ramos crashed his grandfather’s vehicle outside Robb Elementary. At least one civilian offered help but noticed the weapons Ramos held and fleed the area. He then attempted to contact the authorities. The on-campus safety officer arrived nearly 12 minutes after the first shots rang out, failing to stop the shooter. The officer sustained minor injuries in the process.
Police arrived minutes after the campus safety officer, but waited outside to “assess the situation”. When they entered the same door Ramos took just 15 minutes earlier, they waited again. They gathered around the door to a classroom where Ramos barricaded himself.
A Washington Post report reveals that the police officials hesitated to enter the scene as “they could’ve been shot”. A handful of students did not die instantly but passed of blood loss Parents say that a faster response from the police officers could have saved those who bled out for over 30-40 minutes.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced an investigation into the delayed response to the active shooter threat on the 29th of May with the following statement:
“At the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, the U.S. Department of Justice will conduct a Critical Incident Review of the law enforcement response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24.
“The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events.“
“As with prior Justice Department after-action reviews of mass shootings and other critical incidents, this assessment will be fair, transparent, and independent. The Justice Department will publish a report with its findings after its review”
Multiple others, including Ramos’s grandmother fight for their lives in hospitals while Texas lawmakers make no effort to establish gun control. Governor Abbott will attend an NRA( National Rifles Association) event through a pre-taped video later this week. The NRA is well-known for blocking gun control legislation through donations received from gun manufacturers.
Read More – Texas Shooting: Trump urges end to gun-free school zones
