Uvalde, Texas – The former Mayor of Uvalde, Don McLaughlin, expressed surprise at the results of an investigation into the police response during the devastating Robb Elementary School shooting that occurred in 2022. The report, commissioned by the city and released recently, defended the actions of local police officers involved while also acknowledging some missteps. McLaughlin, who is now the Republican nominee for a state Legislature seat, stepped down as mayor last year and ordered the independent probe in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The inquiry examined the actions of 28 Uvalde Police Department officers and three dispatchers to determine if they had violated department policy in their response to the shooter, who took the lives of 19 students and two teachers. Despite almost 400 law enforcement agents, including Uvalde police, rushing to the scene, they did not engage the teenage gunman with an AR-style rifle for over an hour. The findings of the report sparked outrage among family members of the victims during a City Council presentation, with some even walking out in anger after hearing the conclusions.
The investigation particularly highlighted the actions of former Uvalde Lt. Mariano Pargas, the acting police chief at the time of the shooting. In a Justice Department report earlier this year, six responding officers from Uvalde police, including Pargas, were criticized for not advancing down a school hallway to confront the shooter. The report also pointed out the lack of direction and control from Pargas in the crucial moments following the gunman’s entry into the fourth-grade classroom.
Jesse Prado, a former police officer and investigator for the Austin Police Department who conducted the inquiry, defended Pargas’ actions and recommended his exoneration if he had not retired shortly after the investigation. However, McLaughlin, who had not read the entire report, disagreed with the findings, asserting that Pargas had failed in his role as acting chief during the tragic event. Pargas, now a Uvalde county commissioner, did not respond to requests for comments on the matter.
The slow response of law enforcement during the 77 minutes between the gunman’s arrival and their confrontation has been a point of contention for the families of the victims. Critics have also pointed out that some officials, including Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco and county constable Emmanuel Zamora, who were involved in the incident, still hold positions in elected office. Another critical aspect raised by Prado’s report was the hindrance caused by Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell, who was accused of impeding the investigation process.
McLaughlin blamed Mitchell for the delay in completing the report, citing her refusal to share reports and evidence gathered from other law enforcement agencies. Mitchell, who did not respond to requests for comments, faced criticism for her lack of transparency and cooperation in the investigation process. A criminal investigation into the law enforcement response to the school shooting remains ongoing, with a grand jury being summoned earlier this year to further examine the events surrounding the tragic incident.