Thousands of new documents on the Robb Elementary shooting have been released, revealing missteps in the response.
UVALDE, Texas — Thousands of new pages of documents and emails related to the Robb Elementary School mass shooting were released Sunday. The documents relate to the response to the tragic incident where 19 students and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022.
The release of the documents Sunday comes days after the law firm representing Uvalde CISD admitted to accidentally withholding some 26,000 pages of documents despite a court order to release them.
The law firm pledged to quickly release the remaining documents. This is the fifth batch of records released by the firm since Tuesday. Early in August, Uvalde school officials released the first large batch of documents, largely related to the school records of the gunman.
The Sunday release includes more than 7,400 pages of documents and emails. A KENS 5 crew is reviewing those records. The previously released documents shed new light on the tragedy and the school district’s response in the days following.
Missteps during and after the shooting
Several emails highlight several critical missteps that occurred during and after the shooting. One message to parents stated “The students and staff are safe in the building. The building is secure in a Lockdown Status.” It was sent out at 11:41 a.m., minutes after the mass shooting had already begun. The documents also reveal the messaging that Uvalde CISD considered in the aftermath of the tragedy. A draft press release included the statement: “The assailant was contained by these agencies allowing the evacuation of all of precious students, more than 600 students and staff members,” which tragically wasn’t accurate. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed in the attack.
Ongoing investigation
The documents provide a glimpse into the investigation that followed the massacre. The Texas Rangers requested door maintenance records for both classroom doors and outside doors. while U.S. Customs and Border Protection, assisting the Texas Rangers and the FBI, sought help in locating blueprints or construction plans for Robb Elementary.
Shooter’s disciplinary records
The records include disciplinary documents for the teenaged shooter and student at Uvalde High School. He had behavior issues with hitting other kids and using foul language. He failed state tests and had a lot of absences and missed schoolwork.
Outpouring of sympathy
The records also show an outpouring of sympathy from educators across the country following the devastating attack. They included the superintendent of Newton Public Schools in Connecticut, where the Sandy Hook School tragedy occurred, as well as a teacher from Santa Fe High School.
“Your staff is going through a very difficult tie right now and I know it helps to be able to speak with someone who understands the wide range of emotions and survivor’s guilt,” the teacher wrote.