Police Mistakes in Uvalde Shooting
- A Justice Department report details the police's numerous failures during the Uvalde school shooting.
- It provides a minute-by-minute account of the missteps made by law enforcement.
- These revelations have raised significant concerns about police protocols and response during such crises.
A recent Justice Department report has sharply criticized law enforcement's response during the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers on May 24, 2022. The report provides a detailed timeline of the events, revealing significant missteps by police as terrified students called 911 and parents pleaded for action. The timeline begins at 11:28 a.m. when the gunman crashed a stolen vehicle near the school. By 11:33 a.m., he had entered the building through an unlocked door and began firing into classrooms 111 and 112. The first officers arrived at 11:36 a.m., but confusion and miscommunication soon set in, with the police treating the situation as a barricaded subject rather than an active shooter scenario. Key moments of the response included the first request to activate the Uvalde SWAT team at 11:38 a.m. and a request for shields at 11:39 a.m. Despite the urgency of the situation, officers waited over 40 minutes before engaging the shooter, during which time critical moments were lost. The report highlights a lack of incident command and urgency, contributing to the tragic outcome. Finally, at 12:50 p.m., the gunman was fatally shot by officers after he emerged from a closet. The report underscores the need for improved protocols and training to prevent such failures in future emergencies.