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Uvalde Officials Release 911 Calls and Police Records from 2022 Shooting
A newly released federal report has revealed critical details about the response of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the deadliest in the state’s history.
When CBP agents arrived at Robb Elementary School, they struggled to find necessary tools like maps or keys to access parts of the building. This incident involved an 18-year-old gunman who had barricaded himself inside a classroom.
Out of the 188 CBP law enforcement officers on the scene, only one had a halligan tool, designed to forcibly open locked doors. Amid the chaos, some wounded victims were placed on a school bus without receiving immediate medical care. Although they survived, the report criticized officials for this oversight.
This somber account comes from a detailed 203-page report following a two-year internal investigation by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The investigation aimed to evaluate whether CBP personnel acted within legal bounds and how their response could be improved for future situations.
The report indicated that there was no clear incident commander at the scene, leading to significant delays and confusion. Many officers took action based on immediate requests from local law enforcement or their initiative, rather than coordinated command.
Despite these challenges, the CBP investigation found no violations of internal policy or law by the responding officers. Among those who eventually neutralized the shooter were members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit and the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit.
In response to the findings, CBP has updated its policies, expanded incident management training, and assessed the need for additional breach tools. They also issued guidance to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement during similar emergencies.
Acting CBP head Troy Miller emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring their officers are well-trained, well-equipped, and properly authorized to handle critical incidents, in coordination with federal, state, and local partners.
The Uvalde incident presented immense logistic and tactical challenges, exposing gaps in existing active shooter response training. The report highlighted that various investigative agencies, including the FBI and Texas Rangers, faced disjointed efforts in processing the crime scene immediately after the shooting. CBP also noted delays in obtaining crucial text messages from personnel involved.
CBP’s investigation involved dozens of special agents, reviewing thousands of hours of video and conducting over 200 interviews. This report is the latest in a series of reviews criticizing the response to the Uvalde shooting. The Justice Department previously released a report in January citing widespread failures in leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy, and training.
Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo, who was the de facto incident commander, was indicted on 10 counts of child endangerment and abandonment earlier this year and has pleaded not guilty.