The Uvalde City Council is bracing for an independent report on the police response to the Robb Elementary School massacre, which left 19 students and two teachers dead. Slated for a special meeting this Thursday at 2 p.m., the results of the investigation, which commenced in July 2022, will be disclosed, as per KENS 5. Council members are expected to convene privately before a public presentation is made by an Austin-area investigator.
The timing of the report is poignant, coinciding with the attendance of Jazmin Cazares, whose sister was killed in the shooting, at the State of the Union address. Jazmin, now an advocate for gun reform, will be seated in the First Lady’s box, her presence representing the enduring scars of Uvalde, and a relentless pursuit for stricter gun control measures including, tighter background checks and extreme risk protection order laws, as she had previously testified before lawmakers.
Prior to the meeting, residents will have the opportunity to sign up to address the council as they contemplate waiving attorney-client privilege regarding the investigation, as noted in the published agenda from KXAN. This step towards potential transparency follows former Mayor Don McLaughlin's expressed exasperation over delays in getting information from the Uvalde County District Attorney and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
McLaughlin determined to shed light on the local law enforcement's actions, had announced the initiation of the city’s own investigation back when the wound was fresh, selecting Jesse Prado, an ex-Austin Police Department detective and owner of JPPI Investigations LLC, to delve into the particulars. This comes after a separate analysis by the DOJ pointed to "massive failures" within the law enforcement's approach to the tragedy. Meanwhile, the Uvalde Foundation for Kids offered a somber note, "We need no report to tell us who failed. We know what happened in Uvalde." But, the foundation affirmed their hope that the findings might help prevent another similar incident.
