The U.S. Department of Justice said it will launch an investigation into the Law Enforcement response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
According to DOJ spokesperson Anthony Coley, a Critical Incident Review of Law enforcement response to the shooting will be conducted at the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin.
“The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events. The review will be conducted with the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing,” Coley said.
Texas officials said a group of 19 law enforcement officers stood outside the classroom in the school for roughly 50 minutes while the 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos was inside. Officials say the children inside called 911 repeatedly for help.
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw acknowledged errors in the police response in the May 24 shooting.
"It was the wrong decision. Period. There's no excuse for that," McCraw said of the supervisor's call not to confront the shooter.”
The DOJ will publish a report of its findings at the end of the review. The response by law enforcement has been contrary to commonly taught active shooter protocols established after the Columbine school shooting in 1999, CNN reported.
“As with prior Justice Department after-action reviews of mass shootings and other critical incidents, this assessment will be fair, transparent, and independent. The Justice Department will publish a report with its findings after its review.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbot said Friday that he is demanding a full account of what happened during the shooting.
"My expectation is the law enforcement leaders that are leading the investigations … they get to the bottom of every fact with absolute certainty," Abbot said during a press conference.
