UVALDE, Texas — Before a sweeping federal report on the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was released Thursday, families of the 21 victims were briefed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
The Justice Department investigation included nearly 600 pages identifying "cascading failures" by city, county and state law enforcement who responded to Robb Elementary School but failed to do their jobs.
The families of the 19 children and two teachers who died on May 24, 2022, didn't need anyone to tell them that.
“I told the families gathered last night what I hope is clear among the hundreds of pages and thousands of details in this report: Their loved ones deserved better,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference in Uvalde on Thursday.
The report includes anguished and panicked quotes from terrified students on a 911 call — “Help!” “Help!” “Help!” “I don't want to die. My teacher is dead” — while they remained trapped in the classroom while law enforcement waited 77 minutes before entering their classrooms.
The families hope the report that outlined a vast array of problems from failed communication and leadership to inadequate technology and training will finally lead to action.
“I hope that the failures end today, and that local officials do what wasn't done that day, do right by the victims and survivors of Robb Elementary -- terminations, criminal prosecutions, and our state and federal government enact sensible gun laws because Robb Elementary began the day an 18-year-old was allowed to purchase an AR-15," Kimberly Rubio, the mother of 10-year-old shooting victim Lexi Rubio, said as she choked back tears.
The father of 10-year-old Tess Mata described how hurtful it's been that some community members turned against the families who continue to fight for justice on behalf of their loved ones.
"... Our community is so divided because of this, because they don't want to believe that the people that they grew up with failed our children and they stand against us," Jerry Mata said. "Because the DOJ stamp is on this, maybe y’all will start taking us seriously now, instead of telling us to move on, telling us to sweep it under the rug and not doing a damn thing about it.”
Mata also said it's also very difficult to see the officers who “were standing there while our babies were murdered and bleeding out" still on the police force.
"For these officers who sit there and not do anything and still be out here on the streets like nothing happened and my daughter is gone. It's hard," he said.
The parents also criticized Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell who they say “hasn’t done a damn thing.”
"What else does she possibly need to prosecute or to remove these people from their positions of power?" asked Jazmin Cazares, sister of 9-year-old Jackie Cazares.
Mitchell has said she’s still considering whether to bring criminal charges related to the shooting.
At least five officers lost their jobs, including two Department of Public Safety officers and the on-site commander, Uvalde ISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo.
Attorney Josh Koskoff, who is representing victim's families and survivors, said gun companies also need to be held accountable.
The DOJ tells us they have shared their findings with local and state agencies.