Newly released 911 calls and bodycam footage from May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, shows the scene of the mass school shooting that resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. There was a lengthy legal battle between news organizations and Uvalde officials over the public release of more information from that day.
The media argued that the public deserved to see more as it searched for answers and accountability for what has been described as a “botched” police response. The shooter locked himself in a classroom for more than an hour before officers confronted and killed him.
The new recordings started with the voice of 10-year-old Khloie Torres, who survived the shooting. She called 911 from her classroom, pleading for help.
“I’m in classroom 112, 112, 112 yes ma’am,” Torres said. “Please hurry, there’s a lot of dead bodies… please help, I don’t want to die. My teacher is dead. Oh my God.”
“One of my teachers is dead, miss. (Student in background cries) Be quiet!” Torres continued.
While Torres was inside the classroom, law enforcement was outside. Video shows teachers fearfully being evacuated as officers cleared classrooms and communicated with each other as events unfolded.
Along with the newly released 911 audio and footage, text communications between officers following the shooting were also part of the latest release of information. Many officers expressed fear for their safety as community anger and national frustrations were directed at them in the aftermath.
Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo has been indicted and arrested on counts of child endangerment and criminal negligence for failing to take proper action during the active shooter situation. However, Arredondo recently told CNN that he believes he is being made a scapegoat for the tragedy.
“I went in there right away with the first officers,” Arredondo said. “And just so you know, I never had a vest on and didn’t even think about that.”
“Do you feel like you guys are being singled out, scapegoated?” Ed Lavandera, a CNN reporter, said.
“By all means,” Arredondo said. “Since the very beginning, sir. I’ve been scapegoated from the very beginning.”
One other school officer is also facing criminal charges. Some victims’ families are calling for additional officers to be charged and have filed lawsuits.
A Justice Department review found that the police response that day was “riddled with failures,” while a report commissioned by the city defended its local police’s response to the mass shooting.
