The cop leading the active shooter scene at Robb Elementary School was not fired by the Uvalde, Texas, school district Friday.
Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo, 50, kept many law enforcement officers from rushing the 18-year-old shooter. During Arredondo’s nearly one-hour delay, the shooter fatally shot 19 students and two teachers in two connected classrooms.
Despite cries from local residents angry with the chief’s alleged mishandling of the mass shooting, Uvalde’s Consolidated Independent School District board took no action Friday. The special meeting called to address the mass shooting event and allowed the board to terminate Arredondo, according to the meeting Agenda, but trustees declined to do so.
Parent Angela Turner reportedly said she was disappointed the board did not fire Arredondo during its brief meeting. She said after the meeting she was disappointed board members did not explain how the district would improve safety at schools.
According to the Texas Tribune report, only two people signed up to speak during the public comment period of the meeting. Dawn Pointevent explained her seven-year-old son was due to attend Robb next year. The worried mother said her son is now “deathly afraid” of going to school.
Superintendent Bob Harrell told the 25 residents who attended the meeting he had no additional information to provide. He informed parents that children would never return to Robb Elementary, according to the Tribune report.
The report noted Arredondo did not attend the meeting, adding the school police chief has gone to great lengths to avoid the public eye since the shooting. In a secret ceremony last week, he was reportedly sworn in for the city council position he was elected to last month.
Police officers have also guarded his home and workplace, according to the report.
The next school district board meeting is scheduled for June 20, according to a Fox News report.
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