(IntegrityPress.org) – According to an Uvalde City Council report given on Thursday, March 7, there was no wrongdoing on the part of the police officers during the response to the shooting two years ago. The shooting that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, tragically resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers.
The incident unfolded over an hour and 15 minutes, during which multiple calls indicated that children were still alive in the school. Federal agents eventually entered a classroom and neutralized the shooter around an hour past noon, over 60 minutes after the first responding officers arrived at the scene.
According to Don McLaughlin, the mayor at the time, it was difficult to get information from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Uvalde County district attorney. The City Council therefore launched its own investigation.
An investigator and former police detective from Austin, Jesse Prado, who wrote the report, identified issues in communication between Uvalde school district police and other responding officers. According to Prado, former Uvalde school district Police Chief Pete Arredondo faced challenges in making a clear plan, which led to confusion among officers.
However, the focus of Prado’s report was on the Uvalde city police force, and he absolved several city officers and commanders of any wrongdoing or failure to adhere to training. He even praised one sergeant for demonstrating focus and strength despite having a child in the school.
During the City Council meeting, Uvalde residents expressed frustration at lawmakers when Prado concluded his nearly hour-long presentation. Outcries and chants against the decision echoed in the chambers. Many of the parents who lost children in the shooting have deeply criticized this decision.
The investigation aimed to address concerns about the law enforcement response and provide clarity to the community, but the results of the report have sparked further outrage from people directly affected by the shooting.
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