Two teachers and 19 children died when police waited more than an hour to storm Robb Elementary School when Salvador Rolando Ramos opened fire on May 24. Some of the 21 victims “could have been saved” if they had received faster medical attention, a University of Texas review revealed Wednesday. The report, looking at the police response to the tragedy, pointed to a series of blunders before Ramos, 18, walked through an open school door holding an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at 11:33 a.m. A Uvalde Police Department (UPD) officer reported being at the scene where Ramos crashed his truck before leaving the vehicle with the gun. “The UPD officer was armed with a rifle and saw the assailant shoot; however, he asked his supervisor for permission to shoot. “The UPD officer did not hear a response and turned to get confirmation from his supervisor,” the report continued.
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The review, conducted by the university’s Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program said: “A reasonable officer would have considered this an active situation and devised a plan to engage the suspect.” The 26-page report was based on school video, police body cameras, testimony from officers at the scene and statements from investigators. It was also found when officers were no better equipped to deal with Ramos when they finally entered the building at 12:50 p.m. Image: Salvador Ramos Photo: Texas Department of Public Safety “Effective incident command” appears to have not been established between the various emergency services that responded, the report revealed. The carnage has become the deadliest school shooting in the US since a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012. A teacher who survived the shooting has vowed never to forgive police for delaying entry into his classroom where 11 children were killed. Read more: Chilling warnings before Salvador Ramos shoots 21 people Police trainer says officers showed weaknesses in leadership and mindset Arnulfo Reyes called the officers “cowards” for failing to save the students. “After all, I’m more angry because you have a bulletproof vest. I had nothing. I had nothing. You’re supposed to protect and serve, there’s no excuse for their actions,” Mr Reyes said. More than 700 people were killed by gunfire in 43 of the 50 US states in the two weeks after the school shooting, according to figures released in June.
