DALLAS (AP) -- The uncle of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooter who killed 19 students and two teachers begged police to let him try to talk his nephew down, according to a 911 call included in a massive trove of recordings and transcripts released by city officials Saturday.
"Maybe he could listen to me because he does listen to me, everything I tell him he does listen to me," said the man, who identified himself as Armando Ramos. "Maybe he could stand down or do something to turn himself in," Ramos said, his voice cracking.
Ramos told the dispatcher that the shooter, identified as Salvador Ramos, was with him at his house the night before. He said his nephew stayed with him in his bedroom all night, and told him that was upset because his grandmother was "bugging" him.
"Oh my god, please, please don't do nothing stupid," the man says on the call. "I think he's shooting kids."
The call came in at about 1 p.m. on May 24, 2022, about 10 minutes after the shooting had stopped. Salvador Ramos was fatally shot by officials at 12:50 p.m.
The 911 call was among numerous records released by officials in Uvalde after a prolonged legal fight. The Associated Press and other news organizations brought a lawsuit after Uvalde officials refused to publicly release documents related to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.
The delayed law enforcement response -- nearly 400 officers waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the gunman in a classroom filled with dead and wounded children and teachers -- has been widely condemned as a massive failure. The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022, one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.
Multiple federal and state investigations into the slow response laid bare cascading problems in training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers in the South Texas city of about 15,000 people 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of San Antonio. Families of the victims have long sought accountability for the slow police response.
Two of the responding officers now face criminal charges: Former Uvalde school Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of child abandonment and endangerment. A Texas state trooper in Uvalde who had been suspended was reinstated to his job earlier this month.
Some of the families have called for more officers to be charged and filed federal and state lawsuits against law enforcement, social media, online gaming companies, and the gun manufacturer that made the rifle the gunman used.
The police response included nearly 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents and 91 state police officials, as well as school and city police. While dozens of officers stood in the hallway trying to figure out what to do, students inside the classroom called 911 on cellphones, begging for help, and desperate parents who had gathered outside the building pleaded with officers to go in. A tactical team eventually entered the classroom and killed the shooter.
Previously released video from school cameras showed police officers, some armed with rifles and bulletproof shields, waiting in the hallway.
A report commissioned by the city, however, defended the actions of local police, saying officers showed "immeasurable strength" and "level-headed thinking" as they faced fire from the shooter and refrained from firing into a darkened classroom.
UVALDE, TX - The City of Uvalde has released public records from the 2022 shooting massacre at Robb Elementary School.
The release includes 627 files, consisting of body camera footage, dash camera footage, redacted audio recordings, documents, text messages, radio communications, non-emergency landline calls, and 911 calls.
The City of Uvalde released a statement stating,"This week, the Court entered an Order providing for the release of documents in the City's possession, subject only to mandatory statutory redactions. In the interest of serving taxpayers, the Uvalde community, and ensuring compliance with TPIA, the City is fulfilling its responsibility to provide responsive records, which have been appropriately redacted in accordance with Texas law pursuant to the Court's Order, to conclude this lawsuit. The City is exercising careful diligence to protect privacy rights and to comply with the Court's Order."
News organizations, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, filed a lawsuit against Uvalde County and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District in 2022 to obtain records related to the police response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
On May 24, 2022, 19 fourth-grade students and four teachers were killed when a teenage gunman entered a classroom at Robb Elementary School and started firing. Nearly 400 law enforcement officers waited more than an hour to confront the gunman.
The materials include redactions consistent with the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act.
911 CALLS:
According to the records released, a 911 call from Armando Ramos -- who claims to be the uncle of the shooter. While Armando is on hold, you hear him say "Oh my god please don't do something stupid. I think he is shooting kids. He has the classroom hostage."
Another call is from one of the workers at the funeral home across the street from Robb at 11:29 AM. He originally calls about the shooter crashing his vehicle, but then is shot at and starts to realize the person has a gun. "Oh my god these kids. Lord, please protect these kids."
11:29 -- Teacher or faculty member calling about the crash "I think he came on campus. Come on kids hurry hurry." "Where are the cops?!"
11:36 AM -- A little girl calls 911 from the closet that she is hiding in. "There is somebody shooting in my school. I just want to go home." The dispatcher advises her to stay quiet and to stay on the line. The caller hears the cops outside the door.
12:10 PM -- Dispatch is on the phone with a little girl we know is Khloie Torres, a 10-year-old survivor from room 112. "There are a lot of dead bodies in here. Please help, I don't want to die," she says crying. "My teacher is dead. Oh my God."
EMAILS:
Records state that on May 26, more emails started to come in focusing on the Robb Elementary police response. We see mentions of "30 minutes" and similar timeframes.
On May 27, emails start coming in about UCISD Chief Pete Arredondo. People have learned that he's set to be sworn in as a Uvalde city councilman. Many inquiries about whether that will still happen.
May 29, early in the morning, councilmembers start emailing about how to handle the growing memorials and items people are leaving at the town square. "It will be a VERY sensitive subject and needs to be handled correctly," Councilman Chip King writes. "Let's make sure the trash guys just don't start loading this stuff up and that there is a plan." He recommends reaching out to the district and the crisis center to see who can take charge.
McLaughlin thanks a parent in Newtown for reaching out and asks for contact information for the principal of Columbine High School, Frank DeAngelis, and Pat Llondra, who led Newtown after their tragic shooting.
Councilman Hector Luevano reaches out to colleagues on May 31 upon seeing that Uvalde PD and UCISD PD aren't cooperating with the investigation anymore. "Is that the case for UPD and if so who made that decision?" he asks. City Manager Vince DiPiazza replies: "This was news to me," but then informs colleagues that DPS has clarified their statement to reflect that UPD is cooperating, but Pete Arredondo had stopped responding. He urges attorneys to keep council in the loop about what's going on.
Says the shooter was randomly shooting everywhere, spraying everywhere.
12:35 pm: Arredondo is seen on camera. There are lots of officers standing in the hallway and said the shooter can shoot through the walls.
12:38 pm: We hear an attempted discussion with the gunman and they are trying to talk to the gunman.
12:50 pm: Shooter is down after several shots of gunfire are heard,not seen. You hear someone yelling, "watch the kids."
In the moments after the breach you hear a lot of yelling as they call for EMT's and said 'children first!'
12:55 pm: Asking for tactical to help clear the rooms one more time.
12:56 pm: Saying injured are outside.
12:56 pm: You hear a voice asking who had the master key they used to breach.
12:57 pm: Arredondo is heard saying 'thank you for your help' to officers.
12:57: Master key is put on a table.
12:58 pm: Coronado picks up master keys and uses them to unlock another door. A group of officers, including Coronado, go to clear rooms.
Just before 1:00 pm: Coronado goes to Arredondo. Arredondo is telling Coronado what to do next. Saying once they clear everything every entrance needs to be blocked off, 'then we'll tape this all off'
Coronado siad, 'Do you want to start taping off the outer perimeter?' Arredondo is on a call with someone he calls 'Mike' and doesn't immediately answer Coronado. Arredondo says 'to me we need to do the whole school, the whole grounds. We need to do the whole Robb school so nobody comes in anywhere.'
An unknown, unseen individual asks Arredondo if they're crime scene-ing the whole school and Arredondo says 'yes.'
Coronado and Arredondo are walking side by side.
Just after 1:00 pm: Arredondo introduced to some officers and they say they're here to help however they can. One appears to be Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco. Arredondo said there is no active scene. Coronado starts talking about how the gunman shot his grandmother.
Some confusion about if the building has been cleared and they're trying to clarify.
1:03 pm: Coronado "I'm following you Chief." Arredondo says 'Appreciate you Sheriff.'
Arredondo told the Texas Rangers to close 'it.' Rangers said they need the names of everyone who was on the scene while everything was happening. Arredondo introduces himself to the Rangers.
People are shouting to 'leave everything the way it is' and doors to hallway appear to be closed.