Democratic Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro calls on FBI to investigate the COPS who responded to the Uvalde massacre after reports parents told them to go into the classroom and 90 minutes that have 'not' been accounted for 

  • There was almost an hour and a half between the time law enforcement arrived on scene and the time the gunman was shot dead, according to Texas police
  • News reports have depicted a scene where desperate parents begged police to enter the building and go after the gunman
  • Frustrated by a lack of action some tried to go in and do it themselves, only to be pinned down, arrested and pepper sprayed by law enforcement 
  • Earlier DPS officials said that Salvador Ramos fired at a school resource officer who was on scene before entering the school
  • On Thursday, DPS said there was no school resources officer 
  • Ramos had been outside the school waving around his AR-15 for 12 minutes before entering the school
  • DPS could not account for why no one stopped him in those 12 minutes 
  • The White House urged the public not to jump to conclusions until the Texas police's own investigation of the incident was complete 

Texas Democrat Rep. Joaquin Castro demanded the FBI open a full investigation on the law enforcement response to the Uvalde shooting that many are now questioning. 

New revelations by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) show that there was almost an hour and a half between the time law enforcement arrived on scene and the time the gunman was shot dead. 

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News reports have depicted a scene where desperate parents begged police to enter the building and go after the gunman, and frustrated by a lack of action some tried to go in and do it themselves, only to be arrested by law enforcement. 

'The people of Uvalde, of Texas, and of the nation deserve an accurate account of what transpired. However, state officials have provided conflicting accounts that are at odds with those provided by witnesses,' Castro, who represents a San Antonio district about 80 miles from Uvalde, wrote in a letter to FBI director Christopher Wray.

Asked if President Biden agrees that there should be an outside investigation into the police response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged the public not to jump to conclusions. 

'The president-- we've been watching the reporting on this-- the President has the utmost respect, as you all know, for the men and women of law enforcement ... I know that right now authorities are working to piece together more details of what happened so we won't prejudge the results from here.'

Rep. Joaquin Castro demanded the FBI open a full investigation on the law enforcement response to the Uvalde shooting that many are now questioning

Earlier DPS officials said that Salvador Ramos fired at a school resource officer who was on scene before entering the school. 

Victor Escalon, the Regional Director for the Department of Public Safety South Texas, revealed at a press conference Thursday afternoon that there was actually no armed guard on campus and Ramos walked in 'unobstructed' through a possible unlocked door before he mowed down 21 people. 

Ramos entered the school at 11.40am, 12 minutes after crashing his truck outside the school and walking towards campus with his AR-15. 

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'He walked in unobstructed initially. He was not confronted by anybody. Four minutes later, law enforcement are coming in to solve this problem,' Escalon said.

Asked why Ramos couldn't be stopped in the 12 minutes before he entered the school, Escalon said his team is investigating. 'Our job is to report the facts and have answers. We're not there yet.'

Escalon also could not say for sure whether the school door was locked, but said the running idea was that it was unlocked. 

'We will find out more about why it was unlocked—or maybe it was locked—but right now it appears that it was unlocked,' he said. 

At 11.44am, the first cops entered the school. Ramos shot at them and they retreated.

It's unclear if he had already shot the kids and teachers in the fourth grade classroom by then, or if he went on to attack them after those cops retreated.

'They hear gunfire, they take rounds, get back and take cover... they don't make entry initially because of the gunfire they are receiving. They are calling for additional resources, tactical teams, we needed body armor, precision rifles, negotiators.

'They are also evacuating students. There's a lot going on,' he said.

It then took an hour for a Border Patrol tactical team to arrive. At 1.06pm, the incident was declared over after Ramos was shot dead.

In the meantime, 150 cops were gathering outside. Some of them were filmed pinning parents to the floor and some were even placed in handcuffs, according to witnesses, and told they were being arrested for intervening in an active investigation. 

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It's unclear if there was meant to be a resource officer at the school that day. There are four in the district and there are nine schools, including four elementary schools, a junior high and a high school.

On Thursday, Escalon claimed that most of the shooting occurred early in the standoff and that the only shots fired once cops were there were to keep them at bay.

Now, there are questions over why it took so long to catch the gunman and whether or not any of the kids could have been saved.

'There are a lot of possibilities, there was numerous officers at that classroom. Once we interview all those officers and find out what they were thinking, we'll have a better idea,' he said.

Javier Cazares, whose nine-year-old daughter was murdered, says cops were 'just standing there' and waiting for protective shields to arrive at the scene before they went in.

A woman is seen on Tuesday being turned back by law enforcement officers outside the school in Uvalde, Texas. Some were heard screaming at the police to get inside the building. It was unclear when the footage was taken, and if the crime scene was still active
Video shows Texas cops holding down a parent outside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday while a shooting unfolded inside. It took police an hour to get inside the building and bring down the shooter
Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was killed in the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, is pictured on Wednesday outside the school

PICTURED: The 19 children and two teachers butchered by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos in Texas

Amerie Jo Garza, 10

Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom.

Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-old was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up 'covered in her blood.'

 

Uziyah Garcia, 8

Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim at age eight, was also killed in the attack.

The child's family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy.

The boy's grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities.

'[He was] the sweetest little boy that I've ever known,' Renfro said. 'I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid.'

 

Makenna Elrod, 10

Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared 'she may not be alive.'

Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. 'It's pretty sad what this world's coming to,' the girl's father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting.

A mother of one of Makenna's friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 

'Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!' the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims.

 

Xavier Lopez, 10

Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims.

The child's mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. 

She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate.

In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye - not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive.

'He was funny, never serious and his smile… that smile I will never forget,' she recalled after learning of his death from police. 'It would always cheer anyone up.'

 

Eliahana Torres, 10

Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead.

Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn't want to attend school the day of the shooting - but was told by her family that she had to attend.

He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities.

'I hope she is alive,' he said at the time. 

Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. 

 

Ellie Lugo, 10

Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 

'It's hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour… but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn't make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,' Steven Lugo said Wednesday.

'Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.'  

 

Nevaeh Bravo

Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. 

Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter.

'Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,' she wrote.

She said the schoolchild was 'flying high' and asked for the family to be kept in people's prayers  

'Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.'

'Thank you for the support and help,' she wrote. 'Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this.'

Bravo's age could not immediately be confirmed.  

 

Tess Marie Mata

Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday.

'I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,' she wrote.

'I'm sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I'm confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I'm angry because a coward took you from us.'

 

Rojelio Torres, 10

Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family.

A person who said she was the boy's cousin wrote on Twitter: 'It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I'll forever miss you and love you my angel.'

The child's father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school.

'They sent us to the hospital, to the civic center, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,' he said. 'They don't tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.'

 

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10

Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child's mother said Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute.

'My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,' Gonzalez wrote. 'We luv y'all so much!!! I'm just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!'

 

Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10

Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday.

She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy.

She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok.

The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school - a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 

'I took her to school, but she didn't want to go. She told her father, 'Can I stay home?'' Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 

'I think she knew something would happen.'

 

Alithia Ramirez, 10

 Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre

He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre.

'Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,' he wrote at the time.

He also reporters during his frantic search, 'I'm trying to find out where my baby's at.' 

 

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified.

Annabell's father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. 

Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search.

'They're not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don't know where to go.'

 She has since been declared to be among the dead.

 

Miranda Mathis, 11

Miranda Mathis, 11,  was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child.

'My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,' Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings.

'I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,' she grieved.

Miller's kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack.

One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after 'he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.'

 

Alexandria 'Lexi' Aniyah Rubio, 10

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday.

The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school's honor roll ceremony.

Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl's mother, wrote of the loss: 'My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.' 

 

Maite Yuleana

Maite Yuleana was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before.

A cousin of the girl's mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 

'It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting.  

'We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl…. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.'

 

Jose Flores Jr, 10

Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment.

Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook.

'I love you and I miss you,' Salazar wrote in the post.  

The boy's father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings.

'He was always fill of energy,' Jose Flores Sr. said. 'Ready to play till the night.'

He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games.

Jackie Cazares, 10

Jackie Cazares, 10, was another to be killed during the vicious attack at the elementary school.

Her father Jacinto confirmed she lost her life inside her fourth-grade classroom.

'My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I,' the grieving father said in an online post.

'We're devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. ... It hurts us to our souls.'

Cazares said his daughter, who was with her cousin, Annabell Rodriguez, when she died, was 'full of life and love'.

Layla Salazar, 10

The 10-year-old student was the last of the slaying victims to be identified.

Vincent Salazar told the Philadelphia Inquirer his young daughter was among those killed.

He said she was 'a lot of fun' and recalled how they sang along to 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns 'n' Roses whenever he drove her to school.   

 

Irma Garcia, 46 - fourth grade teacher

Irma Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. 

Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four - Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 

'My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y'all's prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,' tweeted her nephew John. 

'She was loved by many and will truly be missed.'

She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. 

 

Eva Mireles, 44 - fourth grade teacher

Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. 

Her husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools - most recently at the end of March. 

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'They said they rushed in and all that, we didn't see that,' he told The New York Times, adding that many were 'just standing there.'

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'There were plenty of men out there armed to the teeth that could have gone in faster. This could have been over in a couple minutes,' he said.

He added that police were faster to escort Beto O'Rourke out of the press conference yesterday when he started heckling the governor than they were to get into the school.

Angel Garza, whose daughter was killed, was handcuffed after trying to run into the school when he heard that a 'girl called Amerie' had been shot. He later found out that she was among those who died while giving medical aid to other children who escaped.

Derek Sotelo, 26, who works in a tire shop nearby, said parents were begging to be let into the school.

'They were just angry, especially the dads. We were wondering, 'What the heck is going on? Are they going in?' 'The dads were saying, 'Give me the vest, I'll go in there!'

Frustrated parents were standing outside the school begging cops to go inside when the shooting was unfolding.

Javier Cazares, whose nine-year-old daughter was murdered, says cops were 'just standing there' and waiting for protective shields to arrive at the scene before they went in.

'They said they rushed in and all that, we didn't see that,' he told The New York Times, adding that many were 'just standing there.'

Angel Garza, whose daughter was killed, was handcuffed after trying to run into the school when he heard that a 'girl called Amerie' had been shot. He later found out that she was among those who died while giving medical aid to other children who escaped.

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Derek Sotelo, 26, who works in a tire shop nearby, said parents were begging to be let into the school.

'They were just angry, especially the dads. We were wondering, 'What the heck is going on? Are they going in?' 'The dads were saying, 'Give me the vest, I'll go in there!'

One child told KENS 5 that he was able to hide under a desk, but that a girl who yelled out 'help' when police arrived was executed.

'When the cops came, the cop said: 'Yell if you need help!' And one of the persons in my class said 'help.' The guy overheard and he came in and shot her. The cop barged into that classroom. The guy shot at the cop. And the cops started shooting,' the boy said.

One shocking video shows them even holding some parents back as they tried to get inside.

The footage shows a parent being pinned to the ground by an officer, while another carrying a taser stands guard nearby.

Other footage shows parents begging the cops: 'What are you doing!? Get inside the building!'

Another woman could be heard to say 'They're trapped inside' as howls of pained anguish rang out in the background.

It was unclear at what time the footage was shot. It also emerged Wednesday that Customs and Border Patrol agents who rushed to the scene had to grab a key from school staff to open the door of the classroom where the bloodbath took place.

That is because they were unable to break the door down themselves.

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The first 911 call was received at 11:32am on Tuesday, and the gunman was killed at 1pm - after a Border Patrol agent was given a key to the door, behind which the gunman was barricaded with the fourth grade class.

Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside the building.

Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders.

'Let's just rush in because the cops aren't doing anything like they are supposed to,' he said.

'More could have been done. They were unprepared.'

He added: 'There was at least 40 lawmen armed to the teeth but didn't do a darn thing until it was far too late.

'The situation could've been over quick if they had better tactical training, and we as a community witnessed it firsthand.'

One woman was yelling at the police outside the school, said Juan Carranza, 24, who lives opposite.

He said she was screaming: 'Go in there! Go in there!'

Carranza said the officers did not go in.

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