TIMELINE: Texas elementary college capturing, minute by minute

On Could 24, a gunman fatally shot 19 kids and two academics in two adjoining school rooms at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Texas. Over an hour handed from the time officers adopted the 18-year-old gunman into the college and after they lastly entered the fourth-grade classroom the place he was holed up and killed him.

In the meantime, college students trapped inside repeatedly referred to as 911 and oldsters exterior the college begged officers to go in.

Questions proceed to swirl about why police armed with rifles and bulletproof shields waited so lengthy. Authorities have given shifting and typically contradictory details about what occurred and the way they responded. The fallout has pushed recriminations and rifts between native and state authorities, and angered many who dwell within the small South Texas metropolis.

On July 17, a damning report was launched by an investigative committee from the Texas Home of Representatives and town launched hours of officers’ physique digital camera footage, additional laying naked the chaotic response, which included 376 officers. The findings had been the primary to criticize each state and federal regulation enforcement, and never simply native authorities, for the bewildering inaction by the closely armed officers.

Throughout a Could 27 information convention, Texas Division of Public Security Director Col. Steve McCraw put the blame on the commander on the scene — college district police Chief Pete Arredondo — saying he made the “flawed resolution” to not ship officers in sooner.

McCraw additionally gave an in depth timeline throughout a state Senate listening to on June 21, calling regulation enforcement’s response an “abject failure.” He mentioned that three minutes after the gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered the college, sufficient officers and firepower had been deployed to cease him. McCraw additionally famous that whereas officers hung out looking for a key to the classroom, they might have discovered it unlocked if they’d checked.

To this point, solely two responding officers are recognized to have been placed on administrative depart pending investigation of their actions: Arredondo and Lt. Mariano Pargas, a Uvalde Police Division officer who was town’s appearing police chief throughout the bloodbath.

The state Home report mentioned that in accordance with the college district’s lively shooter coverage, Arredondo ought to have assumed command on the scene, however Arredondo instructed the committee he didn’t take into account himself in cost.

The report mentioned that regardless of the “apparent deficiencies in command and management on the scene,” no regulation enforcement responders supplied Arredondo command help.

Under is a minute-by-minute take a look at the tragic occasions that day.

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Someday after 11 a.m. — Ramos shoots his grandmother within the face. Gilbert Gallegos, 82, who was in his yard throughout the road from Ramos’ and his grandmother’s dwelling, heard the shot. He sees Ramos pace away in a pickup truck as Ramos’ grandmother pleads for assist. Coated in blood, “She says: ‘Berto, that is what he did. He shot me,’” says Gallegos, whose spouse calls the police.

11:21 a.m. — Ramos says in a textual content message to a teen in Germany that he simply shot his grandmother and goes to go “shoot up” an elementary college, McCraw tells the state Senate listening to on June 21.

11:27 a.m. — Video reveals a instructor, who authorities haven’t publicly recognized, propping open an exterior door of the college, McCraw says on Could 27.

11:28 a.m. — Ramos crashes the pickup right into a drainage ditch close to the college, state police say in a timeline launched June 21, citing footage from a funeral dwelling reverse the college.

11:29 a.m. — Two males on the funeral dwelling run out to see what occurred, the footage reveals. They see Ramos leap out of the passenger facet carrying an AR-15-style rifle and a bag filled with ammunition. Ramos shoots on the males 3 times however misses, McCraw says on June 21. One of many males falls however each make it again to the funeral dwelling, McCraw says on Could 27. The instructor calls 911 and stories a person with a gun, state police say of their June 21 timeline, citing telephone recordings. DPS spokesman Travis Considine says on Could 31 that after propping open the door, the instructor had run again inside to seize her telephone to name 911 however when she got here again out she realized Ramos had a gun. She eliminated the rock propping open the door and it closed behind her, however the door didn’t lock, Considine says.

In some unspecified time in the future simply after the crash, Robb Elementary coach Yvette Silva, who was outdoor with a bunch of third graders, noticed Ramos toss his backpack over a faculty fence and climb over, then increase a gun and start to shoot, the state Home report says. Operating from the sphere towards her classroom, she stories what she’d seen to the college workplace by way of a faculty radio. Principal Mandy Gutierrez tries to provoke lockdown utilizing the college’s alert software program however has bother with the college’s Wi-Fi sign, the report says. She didn’t announce a lockdown over the intercom however instructed the pinnacle custodian to make sure all doorways had been locked. The report says the custodian began locking doorways from the skin however heard gunshots and went to the cafeteria, the place he remained.

About 11:30 a.m. — Lecturers begin to lock down based mostly totally on word-of-mouth stories concerning the gunman, the state Home committee says. Lecturers instructed the committee of listening to Silva yelling and the sounds of gunshots. One instructor in room 105 says she did obtain the college’s lockdown alert, at 11:32 a.m.

11:31 a.m. — Ramos shoots on the college and a patrol automobile accelerates into the parking zone, driving by Ramos, the funeral dwelling video reveals. The Uvalde college district police officer on responsibility wasn’t on campus, opposite to earlier stories, McCraw says on Could 27. The officer drives to the college after getting a report concerning the capturing and approaches somebody behind the college who he thought was the gunman. Because the officer sped towards the person, who turned out to be a instructor, McCraw says the officer “drove proper by the suspect who was hunkered down behind” a automobile.

11:32 a.m. — Ramos fires a number of pictures exterior the college, in accordance with state police on June 21, citing college surveillance. In audio of the 911 name from the instructor obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, she will be heard shouting: “Get down! Get in your rooms! Get in your rooms!”

Round this time, the state Home report, says, Uvalde police Employees Sgt. Eduardo Canales, commander of the SWAT group, arrived on the college and noticed a person firing a gun. He grabbed his rifle, put in {a magazine}, grabbed an additional journal and heard somebody say the attacker was in or close to the constructing. He entered an open gate and met up with metropolis police Lt. Javier Martinez. One other metropolis officer, Sgt. Daniel Coronado, quickly arrived and heard gunfire whereas getting out of his patrol automobile.

One other officer, who was not recognized, instructed the state Home committee that he believed the shooter was firing of their path. When he noticed an individual wearing black that he thought was the gunman, he raised his rifle and requested Coronado for permission to shoot. Coronado mentioned he heard the request however hesitated as a result of there have been kids current. The officer who made the request mentioned there was no alternative for Coronado to reply earlier than they heard on the radio that the attacker was working towards the college. The officers instructed the committee that it turned out the individual in black wasn’t the attacker, however elementary college coach Abraham Gonzales, who was headed to the parking zone for his lunch break.

The committee mentioned this contradicts a report launched July 6 by a coaching middle at Texas State College for lively shooter conditions, which mentioned {that a} metropolis officer had watched Ramos stroll towards campus however didn’t hearth whereas ready for permission from a supervisor to shoot. On July 8, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin disputed the coaching middle report, saying no metropolis police officer noticed the gunman exterior the college and none had a possibility to shoot him. He mentioned that whereas an officer did see somebody exterior, the officer couldn’t inform who it was.

11:33 a.m. — Ramos enters the college by means of the unlocked door on the college’s west facet and begins capturing into adjoining fourth-grade school rooms 111 and 112, college surveillance footage reveals. Ramos then enters, exits and re-enters school rooms 111 and 112. The state Home report says Ramos spent about two and a half minutes quickly firing over 100 rounds between the 2 rooms. The report says it’s most definitely Ramos entered by means of the door to room 111, discovering it unlocked or unsecured. The report says there’s proof that one of many two academics in room 112, Irma Garcia, who died within the assault, did lock her door. The report says there’s substantial proof that the door to room 111 didn’t safe correctly. The report says the instructor in room 111, Arnulfo Reyes, who was shot however survived, instructed the Home committee he had no recollection of getting a lockdown alert or any reminiscence that he took the “particular effort” wanted to get his door to lock earlier than the attacker arrived. The state Home report says issues with the room 111 door lock had been reported to the college administration, however nobody positioned a piece order for a restore.

11:35 a.m. — Three metropolis cops enter the college by means of the west door, the identical door Ramos entered, in accordance with college surveillance footage. The state Home report says that these officers had been Martinez, Canales and metropolis officer Louis Landry. The report says that Martinez mentioned he heard gunfire from contained in the constructing earlier than getting into after which heard “a couple of muffled pictures.”

11:36 a.m. — Arredondo, one other college district officer and two extra metropolis cops enter by means of the constructing’s south door, in accordance with college surveillance footage. The state Home report says that metropolis officer Donald Web page and college district officer Adrian Gonzalez had been the primary to enter, adopted by Arredondo and Coronado. The report says Web page and Gonzales heard rounds, as did Coronado, who yelled, “pictures fired.” Surveillance footage reveals three extra metropolis cops and one other officer from the college district then entered by means of the west door.

11:36 a.m. — Uvalde police dispatch will get a report {that a} girl, who turned out to be Ramos’ grandmother, had been shot within the head, the state Home report says. Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco instructed the committee that whereas on his method to the college, he discovered concerning the girl from a person who flagged him down. The committee mentioned different info suggests he discovered of the capturing by different means, presumably earlier, and are requesting further data.

11:37 a.m. — The officers converge from either side of the hallway on rooms 111 and 112, the state Home report says. Ramos fires as officers strategy the classroom doorways, in accordance with college surveillance footage. McCraw says on June 21 that Ramos fired 11 rounds right now and two officers had been “grazed.” The state Home report says Martinez was grazed on the highest of his head by fragments of constructing materials, whereas fragments additionally hit Canales on his ear. Each retreated, together with Landry. The report, with out giving an actual time, says that after the preliminary shock of taking gunfire, Martinez returned down the hallway towards rooms 111 and 112 however no different officers adopted him. He later helped evacuate kids and was in the end among the many officers when the classroom was lastly breached.

11:38 a.m. — An unidentified officer says, “He’s contained on this workplace,” in accordance with state police, citing physique digital camera footage on June 21. McCraw testified the identical day that the college flooring plan confirmed no workplace within the classroom. Canales will be heard saying on his physique digital camera after retreating down the corridor, and as he walked out and in of the constructing: “Dude, we’ve obtained to get in there. We’ve obtained to get in there, he simply retains capturing. We’ve obtained to get in there.” One other officer will be heard saying: “DPS is sending their individuals.” The state Home report says Coronado’s physique digital camera reveals him making a request by radio for ballistic shields and helicopter help.

11:40 a.m. — Arredondo calls a Uvalde police landline, state police say, citing telephone data. Thirty-five seconds later, Ramos fires one spherical, in accordance with college surveillance footage. Based on a transcript of Arredondo’s name launched by state police, he says he’s within the constructing and a person “has an AR-15, he shot an entire bunch of instances.” He says they’re contained in the constructing and the shooter is in a room, including: “I would like a variety of firepower, so I would like this constructing surrounded. Surrounded with as many AR-15s as doable.” He tells the dispatcher that he doesn’t have a radio with him. Arredondo says he’s within the hallway and that the shooter is in rooms 111 and 112. “We’d like this place surrounded and when you have SWAT I would like them arrange,” Arredondo says. “We don’t have sufficient firepower proper now, it’s all pistol and he has an AR-15.” He says he wants a radio and a rifle.

The state Home report says Arredondo arrived on the college along with his radios however he dropped them by the college fence as a result of they bothered him, and he knew Coronado had his.

11:41 a.m. — A metropolis police officer says, “We consider that he’s barricaded in one of many workplaces, there’s nonetheless capturing,” in accordance with physique digital camera footage. When dispatch asks if the door is locked, a metropolis police officer replies by referring to a specialised crow bar, saying, “I’m not positive however we’ve a hooligan to interrupt it.” Faculty surveillance footage reveals two constables, a hearth marshal and a Uvalde metropolis police officer. After arriving on the north finish of the hallway, Constable Johnny Subject started speaking by telephone with Arredondo, who was on the south finish, the state Home report says. Arredondo instructed the committee that the one path he gave, by means of Subject, was to evacuate youngsters and to check keys. The report says town’s appearing police chief that day, Pargas, dominated the north finish of the constructing. Pargas instructed the committee he figured Arredondo was in command however he was by no means in communication with him and didn’t coordinate with some other responding companies.

11:42 a.m. — A state trooper and two metropolis cops enter from the east hallway, in accordance with college surveillance footage.

11:43 a.m. — After radio visitors signifies the attacker is in room 112 and the query is requested whether or not college students are in there, Coronado asks for a mirror to go searching corners. A voice on the radio says, “the category must be in session,” the state Home report says, citing Coronado’s physique digital camera footage. The report says that after the preliminary responders took hearth, Coronado remained exterior for about half-hour, advising officers about potential crossfire within the corridor and serving to evacuate college students by means of home windows on the west facet of the constructing.

11:44 a.m. — Ramos fires one spherical, in accordance with college surveillance footage. A metropolis police officer says,: “Have some officers which are accessible get everyone again,” in accordance with physique digital camera footage.

11:48 a.m. — Physique digital camera footage reveals college district officer Ruben Ruiz, the husband of one of many academics within the school rooms, enter the constructing by means of the west door and inform different officers, “She says she is shot.” His spouse, Eva Mireles, who was in room 112, later dies. McCraw says on June 21: “What occurred to (Ruiz) is he tried to maneuver ahead into the hallway, he was detained and so they took his gun away from him and so they escorted him from the scene.” He didn’t say precisely when that was.

11:50 a.m. — Physique digital camera footage reveals an unknown officer saying, “They should get out of the hallway.” The state Home report says Coronado replies: “Chief is in there. Chief is in cost proper now.” The report says that means Arredondo was in management and in communication with the opposite facet of the constructing.

11:51 a.m. — Seven Border Patrol brokers enter by means of the west door, in accordance with college surveillance footage.

11:52 a.m. — The primary ballistic protect is purchased into the constructing by means of the west door, in accordance with college surveillance footage. Physique digital camera footage captures a metropolis police officer saying, “Items simply displaying up, are you able to assist with crowd management?” McCraw says on June 21, “So, officers after 11:52 had been being diverted to crowd management actions.”

11:53 a.m. — Physique digital camera footage reveals an unknown officer telling a DPS particular agent that every one they at present want is perimeter. Somebody asks whether or not there are nonetheless youngsters inside, and the DPS particular agent responds: “If there may be then they simply have to go in.”

11:54 a.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, a DPS agent asks an unknown officer, “Are youngsters nonetheless in there?” The officer responds, “It’s unknown right now.” A metropolis police officer says: “He’s in classroom 111 or 112. However chief is making contact with him. Nobody has made contact with him.”

11:56 a.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, an unidentified officer says, “Y’all don’t know if there’s youngsters in there?” The state Home report says that DPS Particular Agent Luke Williams replied, “If there’s youngsters in there, we have to go in there.” The unknown officer says: “What’s that?” The DPS particular agent says, “If there’s youngsters in there, we have to go in there.” The unknown officer says, “Whoever is in cost will decide that.” The state Home report says Williams then resumes clearing school rooms, which he’d began upon his arrival after disregarding a request to help on the perimeter. The state Home report notes that right now, in accordance with a timeline launched by DPS, radio communication of unknown origin says it’s “essential for everyone to let PD take level on this.” The state Home report says not one of the witnesses interviewed indicated any data of that communication, nor did they know what it meant. The report says the consensus of these interviewed was that officers on the scene both assumed Arredondo was in cost or couldn’t inform that anybody was in cost.

11:58 a.m. —- Based on a telephone recording, when an unidentified officer asks the place the shooter is, one other unidentified officer replies: “The varsity chief of police is in there with him.” Based on physique digital camera footage, a DPS particular agent says: “It feels like a hostage rescue state of affairs. Feels like a rescue, they need to in all probability go in.”

12:01 a.m. — Based on physique digital camera, when a DPS particular agent says he desires to clear extra rooms, an unidentified officer says, “Don’t you assume we should always have a supervisor approve that?” The DPS particular agent replies, “He’s not my supervisor.”

12:03 p.m. — A 911 name from a pupil contained in the classroom is available in, and that’s relayed on police radio, the state Home report says. The woman was in room 112, and was the one unhurt little one in that room, in accordance with McCraw. Eight kids and two academics had been killed within the classroom and 9 kids had been injured, he says on June 21. Surveillance reveals a second ballistic protect being carried into the constructing by means of the west door, the place as many as 19 officers had been within the hallway exterior the lecture rooms the place Ramos was holed up.

12:04 p.m. — Faculty surveillance reveals a 3rd ballistic protect being carried into the constructing.

12:06 p.m. — Anne Marie Espinoza, a faculty district spokeswoman, posts on the district’s Fb web page: “All campuses are underneath a Lockdown Standing. Uvalde CISD Dad and mom: Please know right now all campuses are underneath a Lockdown Standing on account of gunshots within the space. The scholars and employees are protected within the buildings. The buildings are safe in a Lockdown Standing. Your cooperation is required right now by not visiting the campus. As quickly because the Lockdown Standing is lifted you’ll be notified. Thanks in your cooperation!”

12:09 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, a metropolis police officer says, “Go round and get the grasp key to the rooms.”

12:10 p.m. — Members of a U.S. Border Patrol tactical group arrive, in accordance with physique digital camera footage. The primary group of deputy U.S. marshals from Del Rio arrive from almost 70 miles (115 kilometers) away to help officers on the scene, in accordance with the Marshals Service. The feminine pupil who referred to as 911 at 12:03 p.m. calls 911 once more and says there are a number of lifeless, McCraw says on Could 27.

12:11 p.m. — Arredondo requests the grasp key, in accordance with physique digital camera footage.

12:13 p.m. — The feminine pupil calls 911 once more, McCraw says on Could 27.

12:14 p.m. — Arredondo tells officers to have a sniper on the east roof, in accordance with physique digital camera footage.

12:15 p.m. — A Border Patrol tactical group member enters the constructing, in accordance with college surveillance footage.

12:16 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says, “I simply want a key.” The feminine pupil who referred to as 911 earlier calls once more and says there are eight to 9 college students alive, McCraw says on Could 27.

12:17 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “Inform them to (obscenity) wait. Nobody is available in.”

12:19 p.m. — A woman in room 111 calls 911 and ends the decision when a fellow pupil tells her to hold up, McCraw says Could 27.

12:20 p.m. — A fourth ballistic protect is introduced into the constructing by means of the west door, in accordance with college surveillance footage. It’s the solely protect that was rifle-rated, the state Home report says.

12:21 p.m. — Ramos fires 4 rounds, in accordance with college surveillance footage. Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “Are you able to go get a breaching software? Like for a trailer home?” McCraw says throughout his June 21 testimony, “So if it is a barricaded topic, why is he nonetheless firing?”

12:23 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “We’ve misplaced two youngsters. These partitions are skinny. If he begins capturing we’re going to lose extra youngsters. I hate to say we’ve to place these to the facet proper now.”

12:24 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo tries to speak with Ramos in English and Spanish. “All the communications was at all times a method. The suspect by no means communicated. So it wasn’t communication, we’re speaking at,” McCraw mentioned on June 21.

12:26 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, an unknown officer says: “There’s a instructor shot in there.” A metropolis police officer replies, “I do know.”

12:27 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “Individuals are going to ask why we’re taking so lengthy. We’re making an attempt to protect the remainder of the life.” He then mentioned: “Do we’ve a group able to go? Do we’ve a group able to go? Have at it.”

12:28 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “There’s a window over there clearly. The door might be going to be locked. That’s the nature of this place. I’m going to get some extra keys to check.” He then says: “These grasp keys aren’t working right here, bro. We have now grasp keys and so they’re not working.”

Simply earlier than 12:30 p.m. — The state Home report stories a burst of exercise on the north facet, together with officers apparently making ready to breach the lecture rooms, indicating the Border Patrol tactical group had assumed command.

12:30 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “OK. We’ve cleared out all the things apart from that room. We nonetheless have individuals down there simply previous the flag to the fitting. However, uh, we’re able to breach however that door is locked.”

12:33 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “I say we breach by means of these home windows and shoot his (obscenity) head off by means of the home windows.”

12:35 p.m. — A breaching software is introduced into the constructing by means of the west door, in accordance with college surveillance footage. The state Home committee says it obtained no proof that the arrival of the breaching software was ever communicated to Arredondo.

12:36 p.m. — A 911 name that lasts for about 21 seconds is available in. Round this time a pupil calls 911 and is instructed to remain on the road and keep very quiet, McCraw says on Could 27. “He shot the door,” the woman says.

12:38 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo tries once more to speak with Ramos in English and Spanish.

12:41 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “Simply so that you perceive, we predict there are some accidents in there. And so you recognize what we did, we cleared off the remainder of the constructing so we wouldn’t have anymore apart from what’s already in there, clearly.”

12:42 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “We’re having a (obscenity) drawback entering into the room as a result of it’s locked. He’s obtained an AR-15 and he’s capturing in all places like loopy. So, he’s stopped.”

12:43 p.m. — The woman who referred to as 911 and was instructed to remain on the road urges the dispatcher to “please ship the police now,” McCraw says on Could 27. Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says: “They gotta get that (obscenity) door open, bro. They’ll’t get that door open. We’d like extra keys or one thing.”

12:46 p.m. — Based on physique digital camera footage, Arredondo says, “If y’all are able to do it, you do it however you need to distract him out that window.” McCraw says on Could 27 that right now, the woman who referred to as 911 and was instructed to remain on the road says she will be able to “hear the police subsequent door.”

12:47 p.m. — A sledgehammer is introduced into the constructing by means of the east hallway, in accordance with college surveillance footage. McCraw says on Could 27 that the woman nonetheless on the road with the 911 dispatcher says, “Please ship the police now.”

12:50 p.m. — Officers breach the classroom and fatally shoot Ramos, in accordance with surveillance footage. McCraw asserts on Could 27 that they breached the door utilizing keys they obtained from the janitor as a result of the door was locked. However on June 21, he says the classroom door couldn’t be locked from the within and there was no indication officers tried to open it throughout the standoff. He additionally says a instructor reported earlier than the capturing that the lock was damaged.

Arredondo tells the state Home committee that he didn’t ship within the Border Patrol tactical group that finally breached the classroom. Paul Guerrero, the appearing commander of the Border Patrol group, tells the committee that after acquiring a grasp key, he had one other agent use the rifle-rated protect to cowl him as he positioned a key within the door to room 111 and opened it. The committee notes there’s purpose to query if the door was really locked. Guerrero says Ramos was standing in entrance of a closet within the nook of the room 111 when the officers rushed in. He mentioned Ramos fired on the officers, who returned hearth and killed him.

State police say an hour and 14 minutes glided by from the time police entered the college to when Ramos was killed.

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Related Press author Sean Murphy contributed to this report.

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For extra AP protection of the Uvalde college capturing: