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'We will circle back': Texas cop scoffs at reporter asking why officers took an hour to stop Uvalde shooter

  
Via:  John Russell  •  2 years ago  •  38 comments

By:   Brandon Gage (Raw Story - Celebrating Years of Independent Journalism)

'We will circle back': Texas cop scoffs at reporter asking why officers took an hour to stop Uvalde shooter
Public aggravation with law enforcement's conflicting timeline of Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 students and two teachers and injured 17 others is mounting, and the latest press conference on how emergency teams responded to the assault only fueled...

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Public aggravation with law enforcement's conflicting timeline of Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 students and two teachers and injured 17 others is mounting, and the latest press conference on how emergency teams responded to the assault only fueled further frustration.

The biggest mystery is why it took officers nearly an hour to neutralize the 18-year-old gunman, who police maintain barricaded himself in a classroom before he slaughtered nearly two dozen fourth-graders.

On Thursday, CNN's Crime and Justice Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz asked the officer addressing the media to clarify why it took authorities so long to reach the suspect.

"You guys have said that he was barricaded. Can you explain to us how he was barricaded and why you guys could not breach that door?" Prokupecz asked.

"I have taken all of your questions into consideration. We will be doing updates. We will be answering those questions," the officer replied.

"Can you answer that question now sir? Because we've been given a lot of bad information, so why don't you clear all of this up now and explain to us how is that your officers were in there for an hour, yes, rescuing people, but yet no one was able to get inside that room?" Prokupecz pressed again.

"Shimon, we will circle back with you. we will answer all your questions. We wanna give you the 'why.' That's our job, so give us time. I'm taking all your questions. I'm taking them back to talk to the team," the officer responded.

"Can you tell us how the door was barricaded?" Prokupecz followed up but to no avail.

"Thank you for being here. We'll talk soon," the official said.

Watch below via Acyn:

"We've been given a lot of bad information so why don't you clear all of this up now and explain to us how your officers were in there for an hour but yet no one was able to get inside that room?" pic.twitter.com/VIgTazT3I9
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 26, 2022

Article is LOCKED by author/seeder
 

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JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1  seeder  JohnRussell    2 years ago

This has scandal written all over it. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
2  Sean Treacy    2 years ago

we will circle back with you

The Psaki deflection. Clear sign he's lying or covering something up.

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
2.1  Right Down the Center  replied to  Sean Treacy @2    2 years ago

The Psaki deflection.

The difference here is that law enforcement will actually circle back after investigating.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3  seeder  JohnRussell    2 years ago

It seems like some of the first responders valued their own safety over rescuing the kids. 

Seems incongruous with the Republican position that the only way to stop these shootings is good guys with guns. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
3.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @3    2 years ago

If the Wall Street Journal is right, they pepper sprayed at least  parent trying to get into the school to rescue their kids during the hour the police left him holed up in the classroom.

It's unbelievable. 

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
3.2  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JohnRussell @3    2 years ago
It seems like some of the first responders valued their own safety over rescuing the kids. 

I hope that you not jumping to conclusions based on the demographics of the police.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.2.1  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @3.2    2 years ago

I dont even know what the demographics of the police on the scene were. 

Why are the majority of your comments snark directed at other members instead of addressing the topic? 

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
3.2.2  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JohnRussell @3.2.1    2 years ago
I dont even know what the demographics of the police on the scene were. 

That's a relief.

Why are the majority of your comments snark directed at other members instead of addressing the topic?

Snark, at you?

Your topic was "the Republican position that the only way to stop these shootings is good guys with guns" and that was incongruous with early reports on the local police.  Do you really want to address snark?

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.2.3  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @3.2.2    2 years ago
the Republican position that the only way to stop these shootings is good guys with guns"

that isnt snark, it is literally the Republican position.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
3.2.4  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JohnRussell @3.2.3    2 years ago

[]

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
3.2.5  Texan1211  replied to  JohnRussell @3.2.3    2 years ago

[]

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
3.3  Right Down the Center  replied to  JohnRussell @3    2 years ago

only way to stop these shootings is good guys with guns

Obviously we need more good guys with more guns. Expecting a 'gun free zone ' sign to do much good may be a tad unrealistic. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.3.1  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Right Down the Center @3.3    2 years ago

Obviously, there were good guys with guns at this scene and some of them are accused of not being so interested in the fight. 

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
3.3.2  Ozzwald  replied to  Right Down the Center @3.3    2 years ago
only way to stop these shootings is good guys with guns

How do you identify these "good guys with guns", to make sure they won't become bad guys with guns?

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
3.3.3  Right Down the Center  replied to  JohnRussell @3.3.1    2 years ago

I usually wait several days before putting much stock into statements floating around.

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
3.3.4  Right Down the Center  replied to  Ozzwald @3.3.2    2 years ago

White hats

 
 
 
squiggy
Junior Silent
3.3.5  squiggy  replied to  Right Down the Center @3.3.4    2 years ago
White hats

I think those two are way in the deep end of the 'only police should have guns' pool.

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
3.3.6  Right Down the Center  replied to  squiggy @3.3.5    2 years ago

Is that before or after they are defunded? 

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
3.3.7  Ozzwald  replied to  squiggy @3.3.5    2 years ago
I think those two are way in the deep end of the 'only police should have guns' pool.

See, that is why you look silly at times. 

I own 2 handguns and am looking to purchase a 3rd.  Difference is that I am over 18, and fully trained in the use and laws of firearms.  The 2 I currently have are locked up and not accessible to anyone who happens to find them.

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
3.4  1stwarrior  replied to  JohnRussell @3    2 years ago

“Risking their own lives, these Border Patrol Agents and other officers put themselves between the shooter and children on the scene to draw the shooter’s attention away from potential victims and save lives, ” Espinosa continued in a series of follow-up tweets. "At least one Border Patrol Agent was wounded by the shooter during the exchange of gunfire. On-and-off duty Border Patrol Agents arrived on the scene to assist with transferring students safely to their families and providing medical support."

Yep - they "circled" around.

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
4  Ronin2    2 years ago

So some people now want law enforcement to kill people immediately? That is what "neutralize" means here.

People need to wait for the full story to come out before the start jumping the shark. If the suspect barricades himself in a class room with 24 children and a teacher doesn't that turn into a hostage situation? Little things like how the classroom is laid out; how the suspect has the children organized/detained (want to go guns blazing into a room where the cleanest targets are a bunch of kids?); and did the police really know that the suspect wouldn't negotiate? 

Maybe law enforcement mishandled the situation. Maybe this will start another spate of defund the police (making leftists very happy). It will make sure that well qualified individuals stay well clear of law enforcement. That should improve policing; draw in the least desirable candidates- because anyone with half a brain and a little ability will find work elsewhere.  

So law and enforcement and scary looking guns are on the Democrat's/left's shit list. 

SSDD

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  Ronin2 @4    2 years ago
the suspect barricades himself in a class room with 24 children and a teacher doesn't that turn into a hostage situation?

If they hear gunfire from a classroom it's not a hostage situation though.  To stand around outside the school while 19 kids are murdered is not really justifiable, if that's what happened. And as the coward of Broward demonstrated, it's not that impossible to believe that's what happened. 

I agree we will have to wait and see as  the initial reporting is almost always wrong. Yesterday the police said the killer  exchanged gunfire with  a cop on duty in the school before entering the school.  Today, the police say he walked into the school through an unlocked door and their was no police officer on duty at the school. 

The report will be interesting. 

 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
4.1.1  Just Jim NC TttH  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1    2 years ago
Yesterday the police said the killer  exchanged gunfire with  a cop on duty in the school before entering the school.  Today, the police say he walked into the school through an unlocked door and their was no police officer on duty at the school.

They said today that prior to entering the open door, he had had a face to face with the school "guard" went out and then came back in that unlocked door loaded for bear. Must not have had the rifle on him at the time I guess? And I just heard on the radio they can't confirm the exchange of gunfire with LEO

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1.2  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1    2 years ago

I agree that this seems to be a fluid picture and the whole story has not come out or been reported. It is possible that LE acquitted itself with courage and professionalism.  I do know that it has been reported that parents were outside begging with police to enter the building with the sound of gunshots in the background.  

It doesnt look good but we can wait for an explanation and go from there. 

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
4.1.3  Right Down the Center  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1    2 years ago

The report will be interesting.

I agree. We had a home invasion in out town where the cops took some heat for not rushing into the house as people thought they should have. 3 people died. It was later found that the police did follow protocol and the protocol was changed. Waiting for facts may be the best course of action even though the press stopped worrying about facts long ago.

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
4.2  Ozzwald  replied to  Ronin2 @4    2 years ago
So some people now want law enforcement to kill people immediately?

Nobody said that.  They want law enforcement to take immediate action, not hang around for an hour.  That "action" may include shooting the suspect, but it may also include confronting and disarming the suspect.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
4.2.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Ozzwald @4.2    2 years ago
They want law enforcement to take immediate action, not hang around for an hour. 

Exactly, who wants cowards for cops.  2They are paid to put their life on the line and that's what they should do.

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Junior Guide
4.2.2  Right Down the Center  replied to  Ozzwald @4.2    2 years ago

Assessing a situation can take more time than we would like. Rushing into an unknown situation is not always the best course of action. That is why it is important to get facts of what happened and if they were following established procedures.

 
 
 
squiggy
Junior Silent
4.2.3  squiggy  replied to  Ozzwald @4.2    2 years ago
confronting and disarming the suspect.

Maybe a simple timeout would work.

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
4.2.4  Ozzwald  replied to  Right Down the Center @4.2.2    2 years ago
Assessing a situation can take more time than we would like. Rushing into an unknown situation is not always the best course of action.

Situations are constantly changing, when lives are in IMMEDIATE threat, action is needed.  That is why they are trained to deal with situations as they encounter them.  Not to stay out of the way trying to figure stuff out.  Barricaded suspect that is simply threatening, is the time to stand back and figure things out, active shooters are not.

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
4.2.5  Ozzwald  replied to  squiggy @4.2.3    2 years ago

Maybe a simple timeout would work.

Maybe it would of if they gotten in there and tried.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
4.2.6  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Ozzwald @4.2.4    2 years ago
That is why they are trained to deal with situations as they encounter them

How much training did they get in this little Latino town?

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
5  Greg Jones    2 years ago

Since Columbine, the protocol for most agencies is to breach and enter as soon as possible. I would suspect the shooting was over by the time the cops arrived

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
5.1  seeder  JohnRussell  replied to  Greg Jones @5    2 years ago

Thats not what civilians who were on the scene say. 

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
5.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JohnRussell @5.1    2 years ago
Thats not what civilians who were on the scene say. 

How many shots did they hear after the cops showed up?

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
6  seeder  JohnRussell    2 years ago

apnews.com   /article/uvalde-school-shooting-politics-texas-shootings-56a4d01fb1cda19947db89fcb6bd85fd

Police: Texas gunman was inside the school for over an hour

By JAKE BLEIBERG, JIM VERTUNO and ELLIOT SPAGAT 5-6 minutes   5/26/2022


UVALDE, Texas (AP) — The gunman who massacred 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school was inside for more than an hour before he was killed in a shootout, law enforcement authorities said Thursday amid mounting public anger and scrutiny over their response to the rampage.

A media briefing called by Texas public safety officials to clarify the timeline of the attack provided bits of previously unknown information. By the time it ended, though, it had added to the troubling questions surrounding the attack, including about the time it took police to reach the scene and confront the gunman, and the apparent failure to lock a school door he entered.

After two days of providing often conflicting information, investigators said that a school district police officer was not in the school when 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos arrived around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, and, contrary to their previous reports, the officer had not confronted Ramos outside the building.

Instead, Ramos entered the building ”unobstructed” through an apparently unlocked door, said Victor Escalon, regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Local police officers entered the building four minutes later but were driven back after exchanging fire with the gunman, he said.

The crisis did not end until a group of Border Patrol agents went in nearly an hour later. Ramos, who had staked out a spot in the fourth grade classroom he targeted, was killed during the shootout, Escalon said.

Many other details of the case and the police response remained murky. The motive for the massacre — the nation’s deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, a decade ago — remained under investigation, with authorities saying Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history.

During the siege, frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the school, according to witnesses.

“Go in there! Go in there!” women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside a house across the street.

Carranza said the officers should have entered the school sooner: “There were more of them. There was just one of him.”

original

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw defended the agency on Wednesday, saying: “The bottom line is law enforcement was there. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom.”

Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz did not give a timeline but said repeatedly that the tactical officers from his agency who arrived at the school did not hesitate. He said they moved rapidly to enter the building, lining up in a “stack” behind an agent holding up a shield.

“What we wanted to make sure is to act quickly, act swiftly, and that’s exactly what those agents did,” Ortiz told Fox News.

But a law enforcement official said that once in the building, the Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Christopher Olivarez told CNN that investigators were trying to establish whether the classroom was, in fact, locked or barricaded in some way.

Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school as the massacre unfolded. When he arrived, he saw two officers outside the school and about five others escorting students out of the building. But 15 or 20 minutes passed before the arrival of officers with shields, equipped to confront the gunman, he said.

As more parents flocked to the school, he and others pressed police to act, Cazares said. He heard about four gunshots before he and the others were ordered back to a parking lot.

“A lot of us were arguing with the police, ‘You all need to go in there. You all need to do your jobs.’ Their response was, ‘We can’t do our jobs because you guys are interfering,’” Cazares said.

Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch outside the school, grabbed his AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and shot at two people outside a funeral home, who ran away uninjured, according to authorities and witnesses.

As for the armed school officer, he was driving nearby but was not on campus when Ramos crashed his truck, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke of condition of anonymity.

Investigators have concluded that school officer was not positioned between the school and Ramos, leaving him unable to confront the shooter before he entered the building, the law enforcement official said.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
7  seeder  JohnRussell    2 years ago
I find this inexplicable. 

TX DPS: Cops Could Have Been Shot If They Went After Gunman (mediaite.com)

A Texas Department of Public Safety official said responding officers were cautious as they entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas because “they could’ve been shot.”

Nineteen children and two teachers   were murdered   after authorities say an 18-year-old male entered with a rifle 12 minutes after he crashed a car near campus.

The   New York Times   reported   the shooter was inside the school for about   an hour   before officers finally breached the classroom he was in and shot and killed him.

Reporters demanded answers during a contentious  press conference   Thursday afternoon. State law enforcement officials addressed the public a day after some parents with children in the school said they were   prevented   from going in by officers.

One girl inside the room reportedly bled for an hour after she was shot.   She died   at a hospital. It is unknown if that hour might have saved her life.

On Thursday’s   The Situation Room   with   Wolf Blitzer , the host discussed the Tuesday’s horrifying events with DPS Lt.   Chris Olivarez .

Blitzer asked his guest if officers at the scene made the correct choice to wait for a tactical team before they went after the gunman.

Olivarez said officers were inside the school quickly, and they heard gunfire when they arrived. They called for reinforcements, he said. The officers in the building waited for a special tactical team to show up as they isolated the shooter to one classroom.

“Don’t current best practices, don’t they call for officers to disable a shooter as quickly as possible, regardless of how many officers are actually on site?” Blitzer asked him.

Olivarez said the officers who arrived at the school quickly might have been shot had they attempted to take out the gunman alone. He said,

The active shooter situation, you want to stop the killing, you want to preserve life, but also one thing that – of course, the American people need to understand — that officers are making entry into this building. They do not know where the gunman is. They are hearing gunshots.

They are receiving gunshots. At that point, if they proceeded any further not knowing where the suspect was at, they could’ve been shot, they could’ve been killed, and that gunman would have had an opportunity to kill other people inside that school.
 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
7.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JohnRussell @7    2 years ago

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