New surveillance footage has been released showing cops retreating from gunfire as the shooter continues to fire in the hallway of Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.
Here is everything you need to know.
New surveillance video of the Uvalde shooting comes to light
Austin American-Statesman newspaper recently released new footage of an 18-year-old boy entering the school at 11:33 am shortly after he crashed his truck outside the property.
He seems to look armed with his semi-automatic rifle in his hands. The shooter continues to walk down an empty hallway when a young boy spots him opening fire into a classroom.
The teenage boy fires dozens of rounds at the children from the doorway before he goes inside.
He then begins firing outside the classroom, most likely at the law officials. The cops further flee from the area and retreat a distance away.
They appear to be huddling at the end of the hallway waiting for reinforcements. They do not breach the classroom until 12:21 pm when officers armed with semi-automatic weapons and ballistic shields arrive at the scene.
Regardless, the cops finally confront the killer at 12:50 pm when a Border Patrol officer shoots him dead.
The video comes amid lingering outrage over the cops’ response to the bloody massacre. It remains unclear what the officers were doing for one hour and 14 minutes after their arrival.
The shooting led to the loss of nineteen fourth graders and two teachers in the tragedy that took place on 24th May only a few days before the end of the school year.
Officials ‘disappointed’ at the video release
Many families of the victims criticized the newspaper’s decision since they were promised to view the footage before it went public.
Mayor Don McLaughlin mentioned in a council meeting that the newspaper’s actions were ‘one of the most chicken things I’ve ever seen.’
He continued, ‘Some parts of the video should not have been released.’
The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) also expressed his disappointment over the leak of the clip.
DPS Director Steven McCraw released a written statement sharing his views on the surveillance footage.
He wrote, ‘I am deeply disappointed this video was released before all of the families who were impacted that day. The community of Uvalde had the opportunity to view it as part of Chairman Dustin Burrows’ plan.’
McCraw further added, ‘Those most affected should have been among the first to see it.’