Uvalde, Texas: Expert Report Shows Police Oversights Before Massacre – Politics

About six weeks after the massacre at a Texas elementary school that killed more than 20 people, the University of Texas named police failures in an expert report. A police officer observed the armed perpetrator approaching the primary school in Uvalde and asked his superior for permission to shoot. “The supervisor either didn’t hear that or reacted too late.” The policeman then turned around to get permission from the supervisor. When he wanted to turn back to the suspect, the 19-year-old was already at school.

The report also denounces other failings that at least encouraged the bloody deed. The outside door through which the perpetrator entered the school was not locked. Another police officer drove his patrol car at high speed through the school parking lot when the suspect was there, but did not spot him. “Had the officer slowed down or parked his car at the edge of the school grounds and approached on foot, he might have seen the suspect.”

The gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at the primary school in May before he was shot dead by police. The police came under massive criticism for their late intervention at the school. More than 75 minutes after the shooter opened fire, emergency services entered the classroom with the gunman and killed him. As a result of the massacre, the school district police chief was placed on immediate leave about two weeks ago until further notice.

At a hearing in the Texas Senate, Texas Public Safety Director Steven McCraw testified about a month after the shooting that three minutes after the shooter entered a classroom and opened fire, nine police officers were outside the room been, two of them with guns. More were gradually added. The operations manager decided to wait for reinforcements, more guns and protective equipment.

None of this was necessary, McCraw argued. In such a situation, if in doubt, a police officer with a gun is enough to stop the gunman – even if that poses a risk for the officer. The police officers outside the room had guns, protective gear and the training for such situations, but the children had none, McCraw said.

Attack in Virginia prevented on Independence Day

The United States is repeatedly shaken by such and similar cases of gun violence. A gunman opened fire during an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. Seven people were killed in the attack last Monday, and many more were injured. The 21-year-old suspected shooter confessed to the crime, according to prosecutors.

The police apparently prevented another gun attack at celebrations on American Independence Day in Richmond, Virginia. A 38-year-old and a 52-year-old were arrested, Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith said at a news conference. Two assault rifles, a pistol and 223 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. The intent of the two men was to open fire on the crowd at the Richmond celebrations last Monday, Smith said. “We don’t know what her motive was.” The police were alerted by a tip from the population. “One phone call saved numerous lives on July 4th.”

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