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The city of Uvalde has released new bodycam footage, documents, and audio recordings roughly two years after the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas.
What’s the deal: The release, which came after multiple news outlets filed lawsuits demanding access to public records, revealed new information about the shooter and internal communications that revealed some officers were more focused on protecting their own safety and public image in the aftermath.
New revelations: In 2018, the Uvalde Police Department investigated Salvador Ramos, then an eighth grader, after a friend reported that he had discussed plans to “shoot up” his school during his senior year. Ramos had researched the Columbine shooting, planned to wear a trench coat during his attack, and created a target list of student-athletes who were popular at his school. He also began using the nicknames of the Columbine shooters. When questioned by investigators, Ramos admitted to having these plans but claimed he didn’t intend to carry them out, though he had been contemplating them for months. Ramos also described being bullied, experiencing a difficult breakup, and struggling after his mother’s release from prison. Following this investigation, Ramos was hospitalized for a psychological evaluation and placed on medication for depression. He was later sent to a juvenile facility, though the details of his charges and the length of his stay are unclear. Roughly four years after this investigation, Ramos carried out the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.
The text messages: In a group chat with some officers who responded to the shooting, an officer wrote, “The DPS director just through [sic] everyone under the bus.!!” Another officer responded, “Is there a way to get our pictures off the PD website for our safety?.. take the website down.”
In another message between Uvalde Police Lt. Javier Martinez and officers, he said he spoke with Texas Senator John Cornyn. According to the lieutenant, Senator Cornyn said that Texas DPS Director McCraw “should NOT have done that” (referring to blaming officers).
In another message, an officer asked if there was a way to deactivate a Nixle account (which provides residents with emergency notifications). The chief of Uvalde police said, “There is a work order for that already.” In another message, the chief wrote, ” Staff is asking if we can take their photos down from our Facebook (Facebook) page. Command staff is worried.”
Families react: Following the release, many families expressed anger that it took years to get “more transparency” from the city. Brett Cross, who lost his nephew in the shooting, said, “If we thought we could get anything we wanted, we’d ask for a time machine to go back in time and save our children but we can’t, so all we are asking for is for justice, accountability and transparency, and they refuse to give this to us.”
