TX - Uvalde; Robb Elementary, 19 children and 3 adults killed, shooter dead, 24 MAY 2022

[Wise Old Owl]

Miah Cerrillo and her classmates were watching “Lilo and Stitch” in Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia’s classroom when the teachers got word there was a shooter in the building.

One teacher went to lock the door, but Miah told CNN the shooter was right there — and shot out the window in the door. She said the shooter looked at one of her teachers, said, “Goodnight,” and then shot her.

He opened fire, shooting the other teacher and many of Miah’s friends. She said bullets flew by her, and fragments hit her shoulders and head.

After shooting students in her class, Miah said the suspect went through a door into an adjoining classroom.

Miah and a friend managed to grab her dead teacher’s phone and call 911 for help. She told a dispatcher, “Please send help because we’re in trouble.”

She was scared the gunman would return so she dipped her hands in the blood of a classmate — who lay next to her, already dead — and then smeared the blood all over herself to play dead.

Miah said it felt like three hours that she lay there, covered in her classmate’s blood, with her friends until she was rescued.

This happened to an 11-year-old this week in a classroom in America.

She smeared blood on herself and played dead: 11-year-old reveals chilling details of the massacre - East Idaho News

(CNN) — An 11-year-old survivor of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, feared the gunman would come back for her so she smeared herself in her friend’s blood and played dead. Miah Cerrillo spoke exclusively to CNN about her horrific experience that day inside the classroom...

www.eastidahonews.com

"One teacher went to lock the door, but Miah told CNN the shooter was right there — and shot out the window in the door"

Right there - we were trained to keep a piece of construction paper taped inside the door, next to those narrow windows. Once a lockdown is called - you immediately go to the door and COVER that window with the paper.

Now - had the lockdown been called yet? The teacher went to lock the door - but that door should have already been locked. My door was NEVER open.

I am hearing this morning that he was actually in FOUR different classrooms. This is such a mess and it keeps hitting me in waves. Those innocent children and their families will never get past this - they might get through it - but it will stay in their hearts forever.

 

[WichitaFalls]

I don't think this person is the best spokesperson from LE for the Uvaldes shooting. Since the beginning, in my opinion, his reports have been hard to follow and confusing. It may be that he is working with insufficient information, but if that is the case, it would be better for him to just say that they don't have enough information yet to comment on certain things.

On the other hand, it may have been reasonable for the local LE to wait for reinforcements from the tactical squad, if they were being shot at with no way to safely engage the shooter and take cover, we certainly don't expect LE to sign up for a suicide mission.

I think we still need a review of the situation to find out what would have been a reasonable response by LE before the tactical squad arrived on the scene.

@Sundog, I hear what you're saying and I agree with we need to wait until all the facts are out. But, protocol since Columbine has been for LE to run towards the shooter. This did not happen in Uvalde and that is a fact that isn't disputed.
MOO but the vibes I get from Department of Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez's multiple conflicting statements feel like CYA and incompetence. The kids and teachers that were killed deserve much more than that.

 

[WichitaFalls]

"One teacher went to lock the door, but Miah told CNN the shooter was right there — and shot out the window in the door"

Right there - we were trained to keep a piece of construction paper taped inside the door, next to those narrow windows. Once a lockdown is called - you immediately go to the door and COVER that window with the paper.

Now - had the lockdown been called yet? The teacher went to lock the door - but that door should have already been locked. My door was NEVER open.

I am hearing this morning that he was actually in FOUR different classrooms. This is such a mess and it keeps hitting me in waves. Those innocent children and their families will never get past this - they might get through it - but it will stay in their hearts forever.

I'm so sorry for the pain you're feeling.

 

[Elley Mae]

I have a question off topic.

What does "Robb" stand for?

Is this the name of a patron of this school?

Robb Elementary School was established in 1955 and was named for a much-respected Uvalde educator, Annie Robb.

Our Campus - Robb Elementary

sites.google.com

…
Added article just happened to read.

Pol backtracks on claim Texas school shooter Salvador Ramos was arrested for previous threat: ‘Clear need for mental health resources’

Pol backtracks on claim Texas school shooter Salvador Ramos was arrested for previous threat: ‘Clear need for mental health resources’

Rep. Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales claimed Friday that mass shooter Salvador Ramos was arrested four years ago, but later backtracked.

nypost.com

 

[passionflower]

I had a bittersweet moment this morning. While packing backpack food for our elementary school, we heard Angelic singing. I peeked out of the room and there was a classroom of little kindergarten students rehearsing for their graduation. It was so sweet hearing them but all I could think of was the little people and teachers that lost their lives from a horrible killer.I even wondered if the doors were locked. It’s very real and frightening.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

PC coming up at noon EST. Been saying they are going to have significant details. So, let's see........

 

[stattlich1]

"We could have been shot"

Texas cops: We waited for back up because 'we might have been shot'

Department of Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez made the astonishing comments during an appearance on CNN last night. He said 'American people need to understand' that the cops could have been shot.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I've said it a dozen time in the past couple days. LE has no duty nor are they required by law to protect you. Period. Your protection has to come from YOU.

I would WAY much rather take my chances against a crazed murderer, whether a man or woman, whether a gun, knife or bat, being armed....than not.

 

[sds71]

: Border Patrol agents arrived far earlier than disclosed, but the Uvalde police initially kept them from entering the school, two officials said.

Uvalde Live Updates: Tactical Team Was Ordered to Hold Back, Officials Say

When specially equipped federal immigration agents arrived at Robb Elementary School, they were told by the local police to hold off from confronting the gunman, officials say.

www.nytimes.com

 

[IzzyBlanche]

Does anyone have a link to the press conference?

Edited: I found one.

Watch live: Texas school shooting to be addressed near Robb Elementary by DPS at 11 a.m.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. to address the latest developments in the Uvalde school shooting.

www.statesman.com

 

[Wise Old Owl]

PC starting......

 

[branmuffin]

It is unfathomable that this comes down to an UNLOCKED door.

Of course, there are thousands upon thousands of other questions that need answers. And, sadly, a lot of those will never see answers.

As a long-time, now retired, teacher, the first thing I said was "how did he get in?" I have watched and experienced many, many incidents in the schools over the years but with a case like this - it all boils down to HOW DID HE GET IN.

All the training and meetings I had to endure - the latest one was right before covid hit was "Stop the Bleed" where we were trained on how to apply tourniquets, packing a gunshot wound with gauze, etc. It was with that one that we were now given a "new name" - teachers are now considered immediate responders - meaning we have to know what to do when an incident like this unfolds in front of us. I was fine during the entire afternoon - which included actually administering aide to working dummies that were gushing ketchup! But, on the way home, it all hit me - I had to actually pull over - I became nauseous and was afraid I was going to throw up.

Something has to change.

It doesn't come down to an unlocked door. It comes down to an individual being able to buy assault-type weapons with impunity because it's viewed as normal. He could have just as easily entered an IHOP restaurant, a McDonalds, or a shopping mall.

 

[ilovewings]

I was just thinking that, and especially with their full names used. It feels very exploitive and re-traumatizing. Those conversations should be private between the child, parents, a trauma specialist and LE.

While I believe most in the media are emotionally moved by the horror of this horrific event, they still want that snippet on the evening news of survivors and their parents telling their story- even if that is not in the best interest of the surviving children. The media does what it does.

 

[sds71]

Police: Ramos asked his sister for help to buy a gun in 2021. She refused
@Tom_Winter
NEW: “It was the wrong decision.” Scott McGrew of Texas DPS says an on-scene commander made the conscious decision to wait to breach the classroom in Uvalde, TX while people were calling 9-1-1 and whispering from inside the classroom begging for police to 9-1-1 operators

https://twitter.com/x/status/1530219686666846208

https://twitter.com/x/status/1530220984917274624

https://twitter.com/x/status/1530222389492994048

 

[zecats]

It doesn't come down to an unlocked door. It comes down to an individual being able to buy assault-type weapons with impunity because it's viewed as normal. He could have just as easily entered an IHOP restaurant, a McDonalds, or a shopping mall. type of weapon he could blow out the window in the door anyway. Then unlock it and come in.

With that type of weapon, a shooter could blow out the window easily, then unlock the door from the inside and walk right in.

We have shades on our door windows and they are locked from outside. But there is that window. And that gun.

 

[Sundog]

@Sundog, I hear what you're saying and I agree with we need to wait until all the facts are out. But, protocol since Columbine has been for LE to run towards the shooter. This did not happen in Uvalde and that is a fact that isn't disputed.
MOO but the vibes I get from Department of Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez's multiple conflicting statements feel like CYA and incompetence. The kids and teachers that were killed deserve much more than that.

There are a lot of variations on the implementation of the protocols that changed after Columbine, they are not black and white, there still has to be a situational assessment, and often "contact teams" are used instead of the recommeded "solo entry" recommendation that was established immediately after Columbine.

Below is a link to a number of policing articles examining various policies and practices with regard to active shooter situations, looking at best practices but also cautioning against a one-size fits all approach to active shooter situations.

https://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series/the police response to active shooter incidents 2014.pdf

“In all of the solo entries we identified where the scene was still hot, one-third of the police officers who made that solo entry were shot.” I’m not opposed to solo officer entry, but think the officers ought to be informed explicitly about what the risks are, if they’re going to take that risk."

 

[ilovewings]

He actually says that his nobody knows what his son was going through but that he wasn’t a monster. He hadn’t talked to his son for a month before the shooting.
Sir, your son was a monster.

I wish his parents would just shut up. Yes, their son was a monster---one of the worst in the history of school shooters, and that is saying something: It takes a special kind of evil to target and murder elementary school children, the most innocent, defenseless. He was vile.

 

[Sundog]

I've said it a dozen time in the past couple days. LE has no duty nor are they required by law to protect you. Period. Your protection has to come from YOU.

I would WAY much rather take my chances against a crazed murderer, whether a man or woman, whether a gun, knife or bat, being armed....than not.

The A.L.I.C.E training is very good to prepare for an active shooter situation, IMO, because it includes the emphasis of being proactive in protecting yourself as you assess the situation.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

From Steven McGraw - TX Dept of Public Safety Director:

11:27 - an exterior door is propped open by a teacher

11:28 Teacher went back to nthe door but left it propped open

11:30 Teacher re-emerges. 911 is called about a man with a gun and a car crash

11:31 Shooting at the school began from the outside - he was shooting into classrooms. Patrol cars arrive at the funeral home (across the street)

There was no officer on scene or in the school.

The officer (from the school) heard the 911 call over the radio and immediately proceeded to the school.

He actually DROVE BY the suspect when he got closer to the school.

11:31 Shots reported outside of the school.

(I didn't understand what he was saying - but I am assuming these are the number of shots)

11:32 27
36

11:33 suspect enters school through unlocked (and still propped open?)b door

Room 111 and Room 112 - shooting (again didn't really understand if inside or outside of the rooms) but he said that more than 100 rounds were fired at this time.

11:35 3 LE's enter the school through the same door as shooter. They were followed by 3 more LE and a sheriff's deputy. The first 3 LE went to the classroom door and were wounded through the door and fell back. (so shooter was inside the classroom )

11:37 - 16 rounds fired

11:48 - LE start to arrive at school

12:10 - another 911 call

12:13 - another call

12:15 - BORTECH (the border patrol elite unit started arriving)

12:16 911 call from inside room said she had 8 - 9 children ALIVE

12:19 911 call from room - it was a child (this is the little girl from the article that said LE called out for anyone needing "help" - so she called out).

12:21 - shots fired again - officers in the hall and outside the classroom had to the the school janitor to get a key to open the door. But - this is significant - BOTH CLASSROOM DOORS WERE LOCKED WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED! So he shot his way in the rooms - shot his way through the window, reached through & pushed the handle to open the door. That's how these doors work - he went in let the door close & its still locked.
911 call was placed FROM ROOM 112

12:21 3 shots heard through 911 call (line still open)

12:36 - 911 call - caller sayd "he shot the door"

12:46 - 911 call still open line - could hear LE next door

12:51 - 911 could hear LE removing kids

Magazine totals - first he said -58 total
11 found inside
3 on shooter
2 in Room 112
6 in Room 111

then he said there were a total of 60 mags with 1,067 rounds!!!!!

LE found 315 rounds in the school and 146 of those were spent rounds

There were 35 total spend rounds fired by LE

He fired 100's of rounds within the first 4 minutes.


*****still workling on my notes and listening to the Q&A - will finish up when the PC is over****

 

[WichitaFalls]

Heartbreaking statement. Children were calling for help that was not sent.

"It was the wrong decision." Texas DPS chief now says about officers waiting to enter room where shooter had barricaded himself. Incident commander had apparently considered it a barricade situation and decided to wait to go in.

May 27 Texas school massacre news

Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, the Texas Department for Public Safety said. Follow here for the latest news updates.

www.cnn.com

 

[Lexiintoronto]

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