“This investigation looks at each individual officer and what his actions — what he did, what our policy says — and basically we’re going to get a report on everybody,” said Councilman Ernest “Chip” King III, adding, “we’re going to act on that, and we promise you that.”
Unelected police officers who responded to the scene will be interviewed by the council’s designated lead investigator, Jesse Prado, a former Austin police detective, King said.
“He will lead the investigation and we will let the investigation go, see what he decides, but everyone that is Uvalde PD that was there will be held accountable for their actions,” he said.
Unelected police officers were some of the first law enforcement personnel to arrive at the school, where a gunman fired at people outside, entered the school through a side door and entered a classroom, where he fired more than 100 bullets.
In all, nearly 400 officers from two dozen agencies responded to the May 24 shooting.
The state Department of Public Safety is leading a criminal investigation into the shooting.
Arredondo told the House Investigative Committee that he did not “consider himself to have assumed incident command,” according to the legislative report — which quoted the chief as saying, “My approach and thought was to respond as a police officer. And so I did. not naming names myself.”
Calls for officers to be taken off patrol
Some people at the city council meeting called for the city officers who attended the school to be put on leave or assigned desk duties.
“I know parents want answers. No one wants to provide those answers more than I do on the City Council,” Uvalde City Councilman Hector R. Luevano said during a public portion of Tuesday’s council meeting.
“I am a former police officer so I have some insight into the actions that need to be taken,” he added. “I can assure the families of this community that I will do everything in my power as a member of this council to give you the answers that you need to hear,” he said.
“If there’s an officer that’s in violation of any policy or procedure that they’re supposed to be acting on that didn’t and maybe caused these kids to die, these teachers to die, I can assure you, heads will come to to roll,” Luevano said.
Council members said their investigator should complete his work within two months, after which Prado will make recommendations — possibly including disciplinary action — to the council.
Council member calls Texas governor
The council, like the school board the night before, passed a resolution asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session of the state legislature to consider raising the minimum age to purchase a military-style semi-automatic rifle.
The Uvalde gunman bought two AR-15-style rifles for his 18th birthday. He used one in the massacre.
Luevano said it’s likely the governor will ignore the requests, citing Abbott’s connection with the National Rifle Association, noting that it had funded his campaign.
“So is this special session going to happen? I don’t think so,” he said. “And why do we have to ask for a special session? Why doesn’t he take the initiative?”
“I don’t even think he cares about Uvalde,” Luevano added.
CNN has requested comment from Abbott’s office.
CNN’s Rosa Flores and Rosalina Nieves reported from Uvalde and Steve Almasy wrote in Atlanta. Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report.
