Justice Department: Uvalde School Shooting “Pain, Failure and Missteps Continued Into Minute 78”
For Immediate Release: January 18, 2024
UVALDE, TEXAS – Today, Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice released their findings following a comprehensive, independent investigation on the Uvalde Massacre and the failures of Texas law enforcement on that day.
Candidate for the United States Senate and Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez joined the families of survivors and victims this morning as the Department of Justice Report released their findings in Uvalde.
“Texas Republican leadership engaged in a massive coverup to hide the facts from Texans, trying to place the blame on everyone else, even a teacher, rather than accepting an ounce of responsibility for their own cowardice,” said Roland Gutierrez, who fought to uncover the failed Uvalde response. “19 children and two teachers died when 91 DPS troopers stood by for 77 minutes. Everyone in this community has been through a hellish nightmare. Families have re-lived this nightmare every day without their loved ones. They deserve justice. That means accountability and reform. Director Steve McCraw must resign. The AR-15 should be banned for sale to the general public. It’s time for politicians to honor the bravery shown by the children and educators of Robb Elementary.”
Senator Gutierrez will be thoroughly reviewing 273 recommendations made in the 610 page DOJ report, including key recommendations for reform and best practices. He will provide further in-depth commentary in the days to come.
In the months following the Uvalde massacre, Roland Gutierrez fought alongside Uvalde families at the Texas Capitol last year to pass laws to reduce gun violence and uncover the abject failure of Texas leadership and law enforcement. Gutierrez reviewed hundreds of hours of body cam footage to uncover each failure, hold state officials accountable, and develop real policy solutions. Of the 21 bills submitted, none were passed in the Republican-controlled legislature, including measures popular with GOP voters, such as age limit increases and red flag laws.
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