HOUSTON — The Uvalde, Texas, school district announced on Friday that police officers were responding to the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School amid ongoing questions about sustained protests by the victim’s parents. announced that it has stopped
The district previously commanded the incident during the shooting and was responsible for delaying the confrontation with the shooter for more than an hour after the shooting began, said departmental chief Pete Arredondo, state officials said. The gunman killed 19 children and two teachers.
On Friday, the school district said in a statement it had put Arredondo’s replacement, Lt. Miguel Hernandez, and another school district employee, Ken Mueller, on leave. Mueller, head of student services, has decided to retire, the statement said.
“Recent developments have highlighted additional concerns about the department’s operations,” the district said in explaining its decision.
The statement did not detail what those developments were, but the move came amid prolonged protests at district offices, sometimes by some of the victims’ relatives. blocked employee access.
Brett Cross, who camped outside the office for nine nights, returned home Friday and said he and other family members saw the district’s decision as a direct result of their efforts.
“It shouldn’t have lasted this long,” said Cross, who raised his nephew Uzziah Garcia, 10, like a son until the day he was killed at school. “This is our first victory, but it won’t be our last.”
The suspension of the police department, which consisted of five officers and one security guard, including Lieutenant Hernandez, according to its website, is a result of CNN hiring new officers over the summer when the school district had previously been hired in Texas. A revelation followed. A public safety officer who was first on the scene at the Robb Elementary School site but did not move to confront the shooter. The district fired officer Crimson Elizondo shortly after Thursday’s report.
In its statement, the school district said it had requested additional officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety to help keep the school safe.