Authorities in Texas have changed an element of their narrative surrounding last week’s deadly school shooting in Uvalde, and are now backtracking on a claim that a teacher had left open a door that the shooter used to gain access to the school.
Only last week did Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Col. Steven McCraw state that an unnamed teacher at Robb Elementary School had propped a back door open and left it that way, thus allowing the shooter to enter the building.
Now, however, according to CNN, the DPS has said that said door was closed, though not locked.
The US is yet reeling in the aftermath of the worst school shooting in the country for nearly 10 years. A total of 21 people lost their lives on May 24, including 19 children and two teachers.
Naturally, speculation regarding the circumstances of the tragic incident has been rampant. Information on the shooter – 18-year-old Salvador Ramos – has been widely sought, and each day a clearer picture develops as to his means and potential motives.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, Travis Considine, a department spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told the Associated Press that Ramos did not gain entry to the school due to a teacher leaving a door open, rectifying false claims made by the DPS last week.
Instead, Considine clarified that the teacher in question – who has remained anonymous – had initially propped the door open but then closed it when she realized a shooter was on campus. The door, however, did not lock.
The updated information will only serve to further thicken the confusion regarding law enforcement’s response and handling of the massacre in the days following.
Questions are still being asked as to why responding officers only entered Robb Elementary School and shot dead the gunman some 80 minutes after they were first called.
According to reports, the shooter opened fire in a classroom connected to a second class, before barricading himself inside a classroom. All told, 21 individuals were shot dead, including 19 children.
Funeral services for the fallen began earlier this week. A fountain in Uvalde’s town square has become a memorial of sorts, decorated with hundreds of flower bouquets, as well as toys, stuffed animals, letters and candles in memory of the victims.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all those affected by last week’s horrific school shooting.
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