Uvalde, Texas – Families affected by the tragic 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, displayed anger and shock upon learning from an independent report that local law enforcement officers present during the shooting did not violate policy. The report, presented by retired Austin police detective Jesse Prado to the Uvalde city council, contradicted previous findings that criticized officers for delays in responding to the incident that claimed the lives of nineteen students and two teachers in May 2022.
While a 2024 Department of Justice report and a 2022 preliminary report by the Texas House highlighted failures in the officers’ response, Prado’s report defended the officers’ actions, stating that they acted in good faith and within department policy. However, the report acknowledged “many failures” in the law enforcement response without singling out any specific officer responsible for these failures.
The report also pointed out a decision made by Border Patrol tactical commander Paul Guerrero, who led the operation that ultimately ended the gunman’s rampage. Guerrero opted to cancel a tactical move that could have potentially stopped the shooting half an hour earlier, fearing that it would take too long to breach a locked classroom door.
Some family members of the victims expressed outrage during the city council meeting, with one parent, Veronica Mata, questioning the officers’ actions during the prolonged wait before confronting the shooter. Another parent, Ruben Zamorra, voiced his disappointment in the officers’ failure to fulfill their duty while his daughter lay wounded during the tragedy.
The emotional meeting saw some family members leaving prematurely due to the distress caused by the presentation, especially when Prado implied that the families’ efforts to assist may have hindered the police response. The families, determined to seek justice for their lost loved ones, vowed to continue fighting for accountability and reform within law enforcement practices.