Texas school shooting: Justice Department will review law enforcement response
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
UVALDE, Texas — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Sunday that it will review the law enforcement response to the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
“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,” the Justice Department said in a statement Sunday. “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.”
The deadliest school shooting in more than a decade has been fraught with conflicting official accounts of how it unfolded.
Demands for accountability rose Saturday after officials admitted that law enforcement officers in Uvalde improperly waited a long time before rushing the classroom at Robb Elementary School, The Washington Post reported.
“Everybody is frustrated about the failures of what happened,” Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez told CNN on Saturday. “No community anywhere in the United States should have to deal with this.”
According to a timeline from Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, 70 minutes elapsed between the first call to 911 and when police finally confronted 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Justice Department spokesperson Anthony Coley said the review would be conducted in a fair, impartial and independent manner, The Associated Press reported. Coley said the findings would be made public.
By Friday, authorities acknowledged that students and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. Officials said he believed the suspect was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and that there was no longer an active attack.
In addition to the 21 fatalities at the school, 17 other people were injured by Ramos, including three law enforcement officers, according to the Post. Officials said Ramos entered the school building “unobstructed” through a door that was unlocked, KSAT-TV reported. He was eventually killed by law enforcement more than an hour later.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Uvalde on Sunday, placing white roses at the makeshift memorial outside the school. The Bidens then attended a Mass at a local Catholic church, according to the AP. He was also scheduled to meet with family members at a community center and then with first responders at the local airport before returning to Washington, the White House said.
Biden to Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden board Air Force One on Sunday for a trip to Uvalde, Texas. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press) (Evan Vucci/Associated Press )
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived in San Antonio on board Air Force One on Sunday and headed toward Uvalde, Texas. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press) (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden talk with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg as they arrive at Kelly Field in San Antonio before visiting Robb Elementary School. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press) (Evan Vucci/Associated Press )
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as they arrive at Garner Field in Uvalde. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit Robb Elementary School to pay their respects to the victims of Tuesday's mass shooting. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden talk with Principal Mandy Gutierrez and superintendent Hal Harrell as they visit Robb Elementary School on Sunday (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Robb Elementary School on Sunday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit a memorial at Robb Elementary School on Sunday and view photos of the victims from Tuesday's mass shooting. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden view the memorial set up at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects at a memorial for students and teachers outside Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Biden in Texas: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden drive past a memorial site in the town square of Uvalde set up for those killed in Tuesday's school mass shooting. The President and first lady were on their way to Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, fourth from left, prays for her cousin Eliahana Torres and other victims, at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A woman walks toward Robb Elementary School to lay flowers for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a stand with an image depicting Jesus outside Robb Elementary School to place it around a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jessica Morales, whose cousin, Ellie Garcia, was killed in this week's elementary school shooting, writes encouraging words on her SUV in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. "You don't expect things like this to happen," said Morales. "It left a big hole in my heart." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper is handed flowers and stuffed animals outside Robb Elementary School to be placed at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Members of the Mennonite community of Uvalde sing hymns to offer comfort to people visiting a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Messages written in chalk decorate the footpaths at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A family prays at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A group of bikers pray outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Pastor Humberto Jnr, center, wearing a t-shirt that says "In Uvalde As In Heaven," leads a prayer circle at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A "Uvalde Strong" sign is posted on an electric pole in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. Nineteen children were looking forward to a summer filled with Girl Scouts and soccer and video games. Two teachers were closing out a school year that they started with joy and that had held such promise. They're the 21 people who were killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Jarrod Tomassi, 45, holds an American flag outside Robb Elementary School while praying for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People carry flowers as they walk toward a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in the school shooting earlier in the week in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A man kisses the cross of Layla Salazar at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a sign handed to him to be place at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Bikers wear T-shirts that say "United with Uvalde" to honor victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Flowers and candles are placed around crosses at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A large teddy bear is placed at a memorial in front of crosses bearing the names of the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A law enforcement personnel stands next to a large teddy bear at a memorial honoring the victims in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People pay their respects at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Uvalde in mourning People visit a memorial set up in a town square to honor the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Uvalde in mourning A state trooper places a tiara on a cross honoring Ellie Garcia, one of the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victim. Miranda Mathis was 11-years-old. Her and her brother both attended Robb Elementary School. Her brother was reported safe.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Maite had posed for honor roll photos prior to the shooting. A cousin confirmed the child's death on Facebook, calling Maite a "beautiful angel."
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Makenna Lee Elford was 10-years-old. She was identified by her older sister as one of the children killed. In a tweet, her sister wrote, "My baby sister has finally been found in a classroom... All I ask is that you hug your loved ones tonight and tell them you love them, you never know when you won’t have the chance to anymore.”
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Jayce Carmelo Luevanos was 10-years-old. Family remembered him on Twitter. "Rest in peace beautiful babies I will miss them so much. I still can’t believe we will never see them again, remember aunt, uncle and your cousin loves you so much. My heart is broken,” his family wrote.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Jailah Nicole Seguero was 11-years-old. She was in the same classroom as her cousin who was also killed. Her mother wrote on Facebook, "I’m so heartbroken my baby I love you so much mamas don’t ever forget that watch over me daddy and your sisters and big bro. Fly high baby girl.”
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Ellie Garcia was 10-years-old. Her parents remembered her on Facebook. Her father said he had planned to DJ her birthday party. He said she was the happiest girl ever. Her mother wrote on Facebook, "My heart is shattered to pieces I love you baby girl. I will never stop thinking of you." A video shared on Twitter includes a video of Ellie on her birthday, sending her love to her dad. In the video, Ellie says, "When you get off work, I'll be here for you. I love you, dad."
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas victims, next. Alexandria Aniyah "Lexi" Rubio was 10-years-old. Her family members confirmed here death on social media. They described her as a "bright light in everyone's life." Lexi's mother described her as beautiful and smart. She said, "Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye."
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Alithia Ramirez was 10-years-old. Her father told a local media outlet that his daughter loved to draw and wanted to be an artist. She had recently entered a submission to the "Doodle for Google" contest. Alithia had just turned 10 in April, and she was looking forward to summer vacation. The last day of school before Summer would have been Thursday, May 26.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Tess Mata was in the fourth grade. Tess' big sister confirmed she was shot and killed on social media. Her sister wrote, "My precious angel you are loved so deeply. In my eyes you are not a victim but a survivor. I love you always past forever baby sister, may your wings soar higher than you could ever dream.”
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Nevaeh Bravo was 10-years-old. Her cousin confirmed the fourth grader's death. "Unfortunately my beautiful Neveah was one of many victims from today's tragedy ... Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this."
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims Rogelio Torres was 10-years-old. His father confirmed to media outlets that he was killed. “Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rogelio Torres, my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy. We are devastated and heartbroken. (He) was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten," his aunt said.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims Jackie Cazares was 10-years-old. She was in the same classroom as her cousin, Annabell, when she was killed. Family members described the two girls as cousins, friends and classmates. "I hope you didn't feel any pain. I hope you know how loved you are," her sister wrote on Twitter.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims. Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez was 10-years-old. Her aunt confirmed the little girl's death to ABC News. She was in the third grade and was in the same classroom as her cousin, who was also killed.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims Eliahana Cruz Torres was 10-years-old. Her grandfather said she was a "beautiful young girl with a lot of energy." Eliahana was an avid softball player, and her aunt said she was looking forward to a softball game that had been scheduled for Wednesday.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims Layla Salazar was 10-years-old. She loved to swim and dance to Tiktok videos. Her father told the Washington Post they sang along to "Sweet Child O'Mine" by Guns N' Roses in the car on the way to school each morning.
What we know about the Uvalde, Texas shooting victims Irma Garcia was a teacher at Robb Elementary. It was confirmed through a GoFundMe site set up to raise funds for funeral expenses and family needs. Garcia was a wife and mother to four children. She died shielding students from gunfire.
What we know about the victims at Robb Elementary School Uziyah Garcia was 10-years-old. Uziyah was "full of life," according to an uncle, Mitch Renfro. He loved video games and anything with wheels. He leaves behind two sisters. "The sweetest little boy that I've ever known," his grandmother told KSAT. "I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid."
What we know about the victims at Robb Elementary School Jose Flores Jr. was 10-years-old. He was among those killed at Robb Elementary, according to his father, Jose Flores Sr. His father described the fourth grade boy as an amazing kid and big brother to his two siblings. He loved baseball and video games.
What we know about the victims at Robb Elementary School The father of one of the children killed in Tuesday's school shooting has identified his daughter as 10 year-old Amerie Jo Garza.
At least 19 students and 2 adults were killed Tuesday in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, roughly 80 miles west of San Antonio, CNN has reported.
Angel Garza took to Facebook early Wednesday morning to share that his daughter had been killed in the shooting at her elementary school.
What we know about the victims at Robb Elementary School A fourth-grade teacher, Eva Mireles, was also killed at the school. Mireles had been an educator for 17 years. In her spare time, she enjoyed running, hiking, biking and being with her family, according to her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District's website.
What we know about the victims at Robb Elementary School Xavier Lopez was 10-years-old. Just hours before he was killed, Lopez was lauded at Robb Elementary's honor roll ceremony according to his mother, Felicha Martinez.