Leaked footage shows how cops in Uvalde stood in the hallway of Robb Elementary School for over an hour after a gunman entered a classroom.
Video obtained by The Austin-American Statesman documents police officers’ failed response to the shooting on May 24, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed.
The video was expected to be released on Monday, officials had announced, but it is now expected to be released later on Sunday after it is shown to the Uvalde community, Rep. Dustin Burrows, the chairman of the Texas House panel investigating the shooting, tweeted today.
The footage documents how cops stood back for 77 minutes as school shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, stalked across the parking lot on May 24 and carried out the deadliest school massacre in Texas history.
According to The Daily Mail,
- It begins with Salvador Ramos, 18, crashing his truck outside of the school that morning before sauntering into the building and walking through the hallways carrying his AR-15.
- A teacher could be heard telling 911: ‘The kids are running. Oh my God.’
- She then instructs the students to ‘get down, get in your rooms, get in your rooms.’
- A young boy who comes into view could be seen spotting Ramos as he walked down the hallway and ran away.
- The Statesman noted at that point that it edited out children’s screams.
- Ramos could then be seen entering classrooms 111 and 112, where he fires his rifle for two and a half minutes, shooting off 100 rounds.
- The first police officers arrive three minutes later, with some seen running towards the classroom as others stay back.
- One officer is seen pulling his cellphone out of his pocket, apparently to check the time.
- After more than half an hour, other officers could be seen entering the building with ballistic shields and rifles pointed down the hallway.
- They continue to stand around until Border Patrol agents finally rush in after 77 minutes and run towards the classrooms.
- An exchange of gunfire could be heard, but still the Uvalde police officers stand back.
Prior to releasing the footage, ABC News reported, Rep. Burrows said the video,
would contain no graphic images or depictions of violence.
I can tell people all day long what it is I saw, the committee can tell people all day long what we saw, but it’s very different to see it for yourself. And we think that’s important.’
He said he is committed to continuing
to put pressure on the situation and consider all options in making sure that video gets out for the public to view.”
Officials have previously admitted that the situation could have been stopped within just three minutes after images from surveillance footage inside the school showed heavily-armed police officers holding ballistic shields and aiming their rifles down the hallway.
On Wednesday, the committee of eight Republicans and three Democrats will hear from experts on mental health and firearm safety.
Here’s the security cam footage from Uvalde. It doesn’t appear from this video that the police ever confront the shooter or even try to open the classroom doors. Infuriating. pic.twitter.com/wmOh4zAH9o
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 12, 2022
(via The Daily Mail)
