Uvalde families furious at new report defending police response

The families of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, are furious at a new report that defended the actions of local police on May 24, 2022, when 19 students and two teachers were killed.

The local report, which follows a more harshly critical one from the federal government, acknowledged the police failure that resulted in nearly 400 members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies standing outside the elementary school for 77 minutes while the gunman was inside — but found that the city’s officers did not violate policies.

Family members of the victims, enraged with the report’s results, shouted “cowards” during a City Council meeting, KENS5 reported.

The families also scolded the investigator hired by local officials for leaving the room before they had the chance to speak with him, The Associated Press reported.

In some cases, the report and Uvalde officials actually praised the actions of the law enforcement.

“You said they did it in good faith. You call that good faith? They stood there 77 minutes,” said Kimberly Mata-Rubio, who lost her daughter, according to the AP.

Jesse Prado, a former police detective from Austin, conducted the report for the Uvalde City Council. During the council meeting, he emphasized the failures law enforcement had on the day of the shooting.

Communication problems, poor training for live shooter situations, lack of available equipment and delays on breaching the classroom were among the issues he reportedly cited.

“There were problems all day long with communication and lack of it. The officers had no way of knowing what was being planned, what was being said,” Prado said during his presentation.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a scathing report earlier this year that found law enforcement had a lack of preparation, communication and initiative in their response to the shooting.

Following the DOJ’s investigation, the families of victims renewed their calls for police officers to face charges. The report cited unnecessary deaths, as officers detained parents who attempted to enter the school but did not go in themselves.

Criminal charges have not been presented to any member of law enforcement. Since the shooting, at least five officers have lost their jobs, including two from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the on-site commander.

The Associated Press contributed.