Texas state and local leaders have not released video from inside Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School during an active shooter attack that killed 19 students and two teachers. However, Austin media has released video captured by a surveillance camera during the incident.
The 77-minute video obtained by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE shows the hallway during the attack.
The video shows the first armed law enforcement officers arrive in the school hallway three minutes after the gunman. The officers are seen running toward the classroom, but they take fire and end up back at the end of the hallway.
After that the law enforcement response stalls, as the video shows local, state, and federal officers armed with rifles staging in the hallway but not breaching the classroom and engaging the shooter.
The engagement by Border Patrol agents that ended the incident is not shown.
Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw released a statement Tuesday regarding the video:
“I am deeply disappointed this video was released before all of the families who were impacted that day and the community of Uvalde had the opportunity to view it as part of Chairman Dustin Burrows’ plan. Those most affected should have been among the first to see it. As I stated during my testimony before the Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans, this video provides horrifying evidence that the law enforcement response to the attack at Robb Elementary on May 24 was an abject failure. In law enforcement, when one officer fails, we all fail.”
Gov. Abbott's office also released a statement Tuesday:
“Gov. Abbott is disheartened and disappointed that this video was leaked before the victims’ families and the Uvalde community – those most affected by this tragedy – had the opportunity to view it. The governor has been clear since day one that he expects all information surrounding the tragedy at Robb School Elementary to be released, and we do appreciate that the Uvalde community is getting answers. The investigations being conducted by the Texas Rangers and the FBI are ongoing, and we look forward to the full results being shared with the victims' families and the public, who deserve the full truth of what happened that tragic day.”
The entire video can be seen on YouTube.
