A New York Times report explains law enforcement response to an active shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo reportedly responded to the scene within two minutes after shooting began. He was among the first law enforcement officers to arrive. Gunshots were reportedly still being heard when Chief Arredondo assumed charge of the police response.
Unfortunately, Arredondo reportedly did not have a police radio, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. Without a radio, he was unable to communicate with other officers and police dispatchers. The official quoted in the report added that Arredondo told police to fall back after two local police officers in the hallway outside the connected classrooms were injured by stray bullets.
The chief reportedly made a fateful decision that allowed the shooter much more time to find and kill children in the elementary school. Using a cellphone, he called a police landline and stated the gunman carried an AR-15 but was contained. The report added he asked for more firepower and officers to surround the school.
A tactical team led by Border Patrol officers eventually took it upon themselves to end the tragedy. They reportedly ignored verbal orders not to breach the classroom after a 10-year-old girl inside the classroom informed dispatchers one of her two teachers needed urgent medical attention.
“There is a lot of bodies,” student Khloie Torres, 10, informed a 911 dispatcher at 12:10 p.m. Her call came 37 minutes after the gunman began shooting inside the classrooms, according to a review of a transcript of the call. “I don’t want to die,” she continued, “my teacher is dead, my teacher is dead, please send help, send help for my teacher, she is shot but still alive.”
She reportedly stayed on the line for about 17 minutes with the sound of gunfire heard after about 11 minutes into the call.
A group of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, along with sheriff’s deputies reportedly decided they were done waiting for permission. They reportedly continued towards the classroom door despite a command was issued ordering them not to breach the room.
Ignoring the order, they entered the room and fatally shot the 18-year-old gunman.
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