Texas school shooting: Uvalde school district chief denies he’s not working with investigators
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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Texas school shooting: Multiple 911 calls, commander made ‘wrong decision’ (NCD)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
UVALDE, Texas — After reports that the Uvalde School District Chief wasn’t working with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the embattled officer denied the allegations, saying he has been in daily contact with the authorities.
A DPS spokesperson told ABC News, “The Uvalde Police Department and Uvalde CISD Police have been cooperating with investigators. The chief of the Uvalde CISD Police provided an initial interview but has not responded to a request for a follow-up interview with the Texas Rangers that was made two days ago.”
Uvalde School District Chief Pete Arredondo told CNN on Wednesday that he had been contacting DPS every day but would not answer any other questions posed by CNN about what occurred at Robb Elementary last week.
Arredondo said he will not release any information about the incident while funerals are ongoing, CNN reported.
“We’re going to be respectful to the family,” Arredondo told CNN. “We’re going to do that eventually. Whenever this is done and the families quit grieving, then we’ll do that obviously.”
Arredondo made only two brief press statements on the day of the school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
DPS identified the chief as the person in charge of the shooting scene and who had decided not to breach the locked classroom, instead, waiting for reinforcement while, at the same time, children called 911 for help.
In addition to his role as the district chief of police, Arredondo was sworn in as a member of the city council on Tuesday night in private after winning an election on May 7, CBS News reported.
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Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Esmeralda Bravo, 63, sheds tears while holding a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Two family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School comfort each other during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School embrace each other after a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Stormy Flores, 11, sits with a sign bearing the names of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, far right, prays with a man during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The vigil was held to honor the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil A young girl listen to a message during a prayer vigil for the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, and Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco pray during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The vigil was held to honor the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Esmeralda Bravo, center, holds a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, as she is comforted by Nevaeh's cousin, Anayeli, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Family members and relatives of Nevaeh Bravo, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, attend a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil People listen to a message during a prayer vigil for the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
