Texas School Shooting: Why Next School Year in Uvalde Might Be Delayed After Tragic Attack
The Texas school shooting that killed 21 people is far from being over in the minds of families and loved ones left behind, with them clamoring for the removal of Uvalde police chief Pedro "Pete" Arredondo.
Parents and residents confronted the Uvalde school board calling for Arredondo to be fired while saying that their children are not yet ready to return to class, according to a CNN News report.
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board gathered after a Texas House investigative committee released a preliminary report noting a series of failures by law enforcement agencies deployed amid the shooting.
The report was 77 pages, describing the response of around 400 local, state, and federal enforcement officers at the school as "an overall lackadaisical approach." The report also noted that a lack of incident command was the main reason for the law enforcement response.
Arredondo said he did not see himself as an incident commander at the time.
The 77-page report noted that others could have assumed control in responding to the active shooting.
Texas School Shooting: Law Enforcement Response Report
The report was first made public on Sunday, showing a huge presence by state police and U.S. Border Patrol on the scene.
The Texas school shooting in Uvalde was considered one of the worst in the history of the United States.
CBS News reported that Border Patrol agents and state troopers made up more than half of the 376 law enforcement officials in the May 24 school shooting, according to the report's findings.
The report also noted "egregiously poor decision making" from authorities, adding that Robb Elementary's safety protocols were found lacking.
Arredondo and Lt. Mariano Pargas became the focus of the blame. Pargas is the Uvalde Police Department officer who was the acting police chief at the time.
Meanwhile, state police announced that no troopers who responded to the scene had been suspended.
Col. Steve McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has blamed Arredondo. He criticized the police chief for treating the gunman in the classroom as a "barricaded subject," instead of an active shooter.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said there are "critical changes" that should be imposed. However, he did not address whether any officers or agencies should be held accountable.
One mother of four told the board that they need to hire "experienced, trained officers" who are ready to bear the responsibility of protecting their children and not those who are "complacent."
Uvalde Parents' Call for Accountability
Several parents are demanding that Superintendent Hal Harrel and other board members should file their resignation unless they fore Arredondo, as reported by Texas Tribune report.
One woman told the school board that she cannot help but think if DPS did not think their children were worth saving.
Vicente Salazar said the school board had "hired trash," pointing out the school police department. Salazar had a granddaughter named Layla Salazar, who died in the shooting.
DPS announced on Monday that it started an internal investigation to identify whether its own officers have failed in its response to the shooting.
READ MORE: Texas Police Shoot, Kill Gunman at Youth Summer Camp After He Opened Fire
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Body camera footage shows chaotic law enforcement response in Uvalde school shooting - from KHOU 11
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