Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw admitted Uvalde police reacted far too slowly to Tuesday's mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
โWith a bit of a hindsight where I'm sitting now, of course, it was not the right decision it was the wrong decision, period,โ McCraw told reporters Friday while attempting to deflect blame away from himself.
Most disturbingly, McCraw explained how students called 9-1-1 multiple times from the classroom where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos unleashed his reign of terror.
By the time the classroom was breached Ramos had murdered 19 children and two adults.
The Daily Caller reports:
McCraw's public admission of police error comes in response toย widespread outrageย from the community thatย police didn't overtake the school shooterย quickly enough, according toย CBS News. McCraw insisted police initially believed the shooter was barricaded, but the situation quickly escalated.
McCraw went on toย detail the numerous callsย made by students from inside the classroom. He described a series of those calls. โAt 12:03 the duration of the call was one minute 23 seconds. She identified herself and whispered she's in room 112,โ McCraw said. โAt 12:10 she called back and advised there were multiple dead,โ he said. [emphasis added]
โ12:13 again she called on the phone. Again at 12:16 she called back and said there were 8 to 9 students alive,โ McCraw said. [emphasis added]
McCraw detailed another call, saying a โstudent child called back and was told to stay on the phone and be very quiet.โ He emotionally described that โat 12:47 she asked 911 to please send the police now.โ [emphasis added]
Earlier today, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) held a press conference with Uvalde Mayor Don McClaughlin. Abbott said he was misled about the response and was โabsolutely livid.โ McClaughlin said he was โblown awayโ by the developments.
The victims of Tuesday's shooting are as follows:
- Naveah Bravo, 10
- Jackie Cazares, 10
- Makenna Elrod, 10
- Jose Flores Jr., 10
- Eliahna โEllieโ Garcia, 10
- Irma Garcia, fourth-grade teacher
Garcia's husband, Joe, suffered a fatal heart attack two days after his wife's death. The couple was married for 24 years.
- Uziyah Garcia, 8
- Amerie Jo Garza, 9
- Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10
- Xavier Lopez, 10
- Tess Marie Mata, 10
- Miranda Mathis, 11
- Eva Mireles, fourth-grade teacher
- Alithia Ramirez, 10
- Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10
- Maite Rodriguez
- Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10
- Layla Salazar, 10
- Jailah Silguero, 10
- Eliahana Cruz Torres
- Rogelio Torres, 10
According to Gov. Abbott, at least 17 people were wounded in the attack.
1 Comment
As a veteran and major police supporter, every cop involved here should resign in disgrace, and forfeit their pensions. And those cowards who tased and restricted parents from going in, should be charged as accessories to murder. I’m disgusted to be an American among these cowards today. What the hell is happening in our country today? Coward should be tattooed on their foreheads as well. A brand they can carry for the rest of their pathetic lives.