State Police Blame Uvalde Scene Commander For Delayed Response
Investigators said on Friday that the director of the Uvalde school's shooting range preferred to wait for additional help rather than continue to break into a classroom where students were being shot and the gunman barricaded himself behind closed doors.
Texas Public Safety Director Steve McCrow called it a "wrong decision," adding that "there is no excuse," and said officers should continue trying to hit the shooter with "extra equipment" before troops arrive.
After three days of disagreements with Texas DPS officials, McCrow confessed that more than an hour and 15 minutes had passed between when the first officers entered the school building and the moment they entered the classroom and killed the shooter, after they finally found the received keys. . to the room. school guard.
Greg Abbott (right) of Texas told a news conference on Friday that the information police gave him earlier this week was partially incorrect. Ebat has previously praised officers for their quick response and said they saved lives.
The governor said Friday afternoon he was misled and angry.
"I'm angry about it. I expect law enforcement investigators, particularly the Texas Rangers and the FBI, to approach the issue with absolute confidence," Abbott said.
McCrow said the gunman entered the school building through the back door at 11:33 a.m. Friday, releasing the teacher.
Within two minutes, three officers entered through the same door, and a few minutes later four entered as the first three attempted to reach the classroom.
"The first three officers to appear went straight to the door and were flat out injured by the suspect while the door was closed," McCrow said.
According to him, the other officers, only 19 people, will enter the building in the next 30 minutes, but they are not in class yet.
“In fact, there were many officers who did whatever needed to be done. "With one exception, the incident commander thought they needed more gear and more officers to make a tactical breakthrough," McCrow said.
GET REFERENCESTexas Department of Public Safety Director Colonel Steven S. McCrow speaking at a press conference on May 27, 2022, carrying a crime scene diagram at Rob Elementary School showing the criminal's route to Uvald, Texas.
Late Friday night, two senior federal law enforcement officials told NBC News that members of the U.S. Elite Frontier Tactical Team arrived at the school from noon to 12:15 p.m. About 30 minutes later, officials said the border guards broke their orders and took a "group" of officers to class.
The assembly line typically includes officers standing behind a ballistic shield to provide cover and direct additional firepower at the gunner.
According to McCrow, while police were waiting for an opportunity to enter the room, police began calling emergency services from the two people who were blocked in the classroom.
"At 12:16 p.m., [one person] called back and said there were eight to nine students left," McCrow said.
Commemorating the victims of the shooting near Rob Elementary School in Yuvald, Texas May 27, 2022.
Video taken outside the building shows parents begging the police at the time, even offering to attack the building themselves.
"The other parents are already moving forward to shoot him," one of the parents shouted.
Finally, at 12:50 a.m., more than an hour and 15 minutes after the shooting began, McCrow said that police "members of the Border Patrol" entered the room and killed the suspect.
"They broke the door with the keys they were able to get from the guard," McCrow said.
McCrow said the scene manager, who he dubbed the school district's local police chief, shouldn't have waited.
"Obviously it was a wrong decision, it was a wrong decision. There was no excuse for that. But I wasn't there anymore. But I'm just telling you what we know. "We think you should have done that as soon as possible ' McCrow said.
McCrow said the commander believed the gunman posed no danger to children barricaded outside the door.
He said it was unclear if 9-1-1 operators informed officials that the victims were still alive.
GET REFERENCESTexas DPS Director Steve McCrow answers questions from the media at Rob Elementary School on May 27, 2022 in Uwald, Texas.
NBC5 made several attempts to contact police chief Uvalde CISD on Friday, but the reports were not immediately returned. Texas Law Enforcement Licensing Commission (TCOLE) records obtained by NBC5 Investigates say the director is a 26-year law enforcement veteran who last received mandatory state police officer training just five months ago in December.
The TCLOE Active Shooter Training Program reminds officers, "Time is the greatest enemy of active shooters."
It said officers should continue to attempt to reach the shooter "...even if it means one officer acting alone."
“You don't have to have a leader on the stage. Each officer lined up, folded... Ö‡ keep shooting until subject dies. That's the thing," McCrow said.
It is difficult for the families of the victims to understand the delay.
"My brother was willing to give his life for the girl and they continue to put pressure on her to do the rest. He said to them, "Why don't 22 boys do anything?" "We all go there," said Jose Casares, the uncle of one of the victims.
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