Officials have released more videos shedding light on the hesitant police response to the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The footage, originally withheld by the police, captures officers in a state of urgency as they tend to victims, parents in frantic motion near the school building, and a multitude of law enforcement personnel outside Robb Elementary School.
The additional videos were unveiled recently, with police explaining that they were discovered following the release of a large collection of audio and video recordings in August. The comprehensive footage portrays the hesitation displayed by police in the small South Texas town, where a gunman ruthlessly took the lives of 19 children and two teachers in a fourth-grade classroom, marking one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
The newly revealed footage, made public on Tuesday, mirrors the chaos and urgency depicted in the previously released videos. Scenes capture officers administering CPR to a victim outside the school while others are heard urgently calling for assistance. In the wake of this discovery, one Uvalde officer was placed on paid leave.
City officials made the decision to release this material over the summer after engaging in a protracted legal battle with news organizations such as The Associated Press. The delayed response of law enforcement to the tragic events of May 24, 2022, has been heavily criticized, with nearly 400 officers waiting for over 70 minutes before confronting the shooter in a classroom where casualties lay scattered.
As terrified individuals inside the school desperately dialed 911, officers were observed hesitating in the hallway, unsure of how to proceed. Distraught parents outside the building implored them to take action. Recordings of distressing 911 calls from both staff and students, amidst the sound of gunfire, emphasized the urgency of the situation.
Investigations attributed communication breakdowns and inadequate training as contributing factors to the faltering response. Some even questioned whether officers prioritized their safety above that of the children and teachers in danger. Two officers now face criminal charges of abandonment and endangerment in relation to their response to the incident.
Former Uvalde school Police Chief Pete Arredondo and ex-school officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Arredondo, appearing in court for the first time recently, has expressed feeling unfairly targeted in the aftermath of the heavily scrutinized police actions. Jamie Stengle from the Associated Press contributed to this report from Dallas.
Nadia Lathan is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, a program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.