The US Department of Justice wants to start an investigation into the massacre of a Texas elementary school, police said. The authority announced in Washington on Sunday that the actions of the security forces should be investigated. The mayor of the stricken town of Uvalde, Don McLaughlin, asked for it. An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday.
The purpose of the inquiry is to prepare an independent report on the police’s actions on that day and to draw lessons for other attacks. The report must also be published at the end. The assessment will be “fair, transparent and independent”.
The 18-year-old attacker locked himself with students and teachers in two contiguous classrooms and fired around them. A total of 21 people were killed. New investigative findings on the day’s trials put police under heavy pressure: According to official information, early on, 19 police officers were present in the hallway in front of the classroom, where the gunman had holed up with teachers and students. However, the officers tried not to enter for a long time. Relatives accused the police of saving lives.
Several emergency calls, police officers were waiting
While officers arrived on the scene shortly after noon local time, officials said students began desperately calling 911 from the room, officials said. Among them was a student who called several times in a row. In a whisper, she first reported several deaths. In another phone call, she said moments later that eight to nine students were still alive. Still no help came. 40 minutes after the first call, the girl begged to call the police immediately.
Meanwhile, police waited outside the door for reinforcements, the Texas Public Safety Agency announced Friday. The officer in charge was of the opinion that no children were in danger after the first shots. That is now confusing. It wasn’t until 1:00 p.m. that emergency services entered the room — with a key given to them by the janitor — and killed the shooter. More than 75 minutes after he opened fire inside.
Bidens laid flowers
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden visited the scene of the bloody crime. Biden traveled to Uvalde with his wife Jill on Sunday. The President and First Lady laid a bouquet of flowers in front of the school building – at a makeshift memorial with flowers, toys and photos of the dead. The Bidens walked from photo to photo one by one, touching the photos of those who had been so horribly taken from their lives.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
