Uvalde School District Releases Records on 2022 Shooting
The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) has shared new documents regarding the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that occurred in May 2022, resulting in the deaths of 19 children and two adults.
On Tuesday, the county made public 1,576 pages of various communications, including emails and text messages, as well as seven hours of footage capturing the incident from May 24, 2022.
There has been widespread criticism directed at law enforcement’s actions during the shooting, described by some as a “massive tactical and moral failure,” particularly since nearly 400 officers waited 77 minutes before confronting the shooter.
Footage from body cameras revealed officers stationed both inside the school and outside during the incident. Some officers suggested using gas to enter or searching for keys to unlock the classroom. Yet, it’s unclear if any of these ideas were actually acted upon or who was in charge at the time.
In the moments following the shooting, anxious parents gathered at a nearby fence, pleading with authorities to act. One parent was overheard asking, “Whose class is he in?” while another shouted, “Come on, man, my daughter is in there.” Another parent, visibly distressed, asserted, “Either you go in or I’m going in, bro,” adding desperately, “My kids are in there, bro … please.”
In one clip, an officer could be heard saying, “We can’t see him at all,” before clarifying, “We were at the front and he started shooting.” Another officer confirmed, “He’s in a classroom right?” “With kids,” came the response.
A significant number of law enforcement personnel—including 91 state police officers and around 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents—remained in the hallway while parents urged them to intervene. Meanwhile, students trapped inside were making desperate calls to 9-1-1.
The shooter, Salvador Ramos, had entered a fourth-grade classroom, targeting teachers and students. Disturbing footage showed police officers lingering in the hallway, some armed with rifles and wearing bulletproof shields, as the event unfolded.
Finally, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a tactical team rushed in and fatally shot Ramos.
Currently, two individuals—former Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former officer Adrian Gonzales—are facing criminal charges in connection with the shooting. Prosecutors allege they had direct command responsibilities and missed clear opportunities to stop the shooter, making their inaction legally actionable. Both have pleaded not guilty to various felony charges related to child endangerment and abandonment, with their trial scheduled for October 2025.
