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Amid a backdrop of bureaucratic delays, Texas Senator Ted Cruz is demanding swift action from the Department of Justice regarding former Santa Fe ISD police officer John Barnes' eligibility for federal benefits. Barnes, hailed as a hero for his confrontation with the gunman during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, sustained a critical shotgun wound that forever altered his life and career. As per KPRC 2's reports, Barnes is still awaiting a verdict on his Public Safety Officers' Benefits program application.
"You’re making financial decisions and putting things off because you’re waiting for them to give you an answer on this benefit," Barnes conveyed to KPRC 2 in May. In effort to address such delays, Cruz, alongside U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, introduced a proposed law meant to impose a 270-day deadline for deciding claims with PSOB. The program, offering a one-time financial benefit to the kin of first responders killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty, faces over 1,200 claims annually, highlighting the scope of its significance and the urgency for expedited processes.
Rome Shubert closed his college baseball tenure, embodying strength and resistance against the aftermath of violence. Six years after a gunshot wound to the head during the Santa Fe shooting, the former high school athlete concluded his career at Sam Houston with notable grit. "One of the biggest things is not letting that (shooter) win. You don’t need to get revenge on him or tell him he needs to go to hell or needs to die or anything like that — he did what he did. … If you’re giving him attention, that’s exactly what they want." Shubert stated in an interview highlighted by the Houston Chronicle.
Beyond his 2-2 pitching record, Shubert's journey from injury to recovery resonated through the voices of those around him. "Rome embodies toughness. You can see it in his upbringing and the way he’s handled what happened. He loves his teammates and holds you accountable — he’s just the epitome of a great teammate,” affirmed fellow pitcher Marshall Wales in a Houston Chronicle interview, as mentioned by Hoodline.
