UVALDE, Texas - The City of Uvalde has released public records from the 2022 shooting massacre at Robb Elementary School. The release includes 627 files, consisting of body camera footage, dash camera footage, redacted audio recordings, documents, text messages, radio communications, non-emergency landline calls, and 911 calls.
As law enforcement officers hung back outside Khloie Torres' fourth-grade classroom in Uvalde, Texas, she begged for help in a series of 911 calls, whispering into the phone that there were “a lot” of bodies and telling the operator: “Please, I don’t want to die. My teacher is dead. Oh, my God."
At one point, the dispatcher asks Khloie if there are many people in the room with the 10-year-old, who ultimately survived.
“No, it’s just me and a couple of friends. A lot of people are,” she says, pausing briefly, “gone.”
Calls from Khloie and others, along with body camera footage and surveillance videos from the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School, were included in a massive collection of audio and video recordings released by Uvalde city officials on Saturday after a prolonged legal fight. News organizations, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, filed a lawsuit against Uvalde County and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District in 2022 to obtain records related to the police response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
The massacre was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. On May 24, 2022, 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers were killed when a teenage gunman entered a classroom at Robb Elementary School and started firing. Nearly 400 law enforcement officers waited more than an hour to confront the gunman.
For the families of those lost in this tragedy, this release marks another step toward transparency.
The City of Uvalde released a statement stating,“This week, the Court entered an Order providing for the release of documents in the City’s possession, subject only to mandatory statutory redactions. In the interest of serving taxpayers, the Uvalde community, and ensuring compliance with TPIA, the City is fulfilling its responsibility to provide responsive records, which have been appropriately redacted in accordance with Texas law pursuant to the Court’s Order, to conclude this lawsuit. The City is exercising careful diligence to protect privacy rights and to comply with the Court’s Order.”
The materials include redactions consistent with the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act.
Our reporters are actively going through thousands of documents and recordings. We will update this story as we learn more.
911 CALLS
We listened to the 911 calls released and have transcribed key moments in the May 24 shooting.
According to the records released, police got a 911 call from Armando Ramos -- who claims to be the uncle of the shooter.
While Armando is on hold, you hear him say, “Oh my god, please don’t do something stupid. I think he is shooting kids. He has the classroom hostage."
Another file is a call from one of the workers at the funeral home across the street from Robb Elementary at 11:29 AM.
He originally calls about the shooter crashing his vehicle, but when the shooter starts firing, he hears the pops and realizes the person has a gun. “Oh my god these kids. Lord, please protect these kids," the worker said.
At that same moment, a teacher or faculty member calls about the crash, saying, “I think he came on campus. Come on kids, hurry, hurry," adding, "Where are the cops?!"
At 11:36 am, a little girl calls 911 from the closet that she is hiding in.
"There is somebody shooting in my school. I just want to go home," the girl tells the dispatcher.
The dispatcher advises her to stay quiet and to stay on the line. The caller hears the police outside the door.
At 12:10 pm, dispatch is on the phone with a little girl we now know is Khloie Torres, a 10-year-old survivor from room 112.
"There are a lot of dead bodies in here. Please help, I don't want to die," she said, crying. "My teacher is dead. Oh my God."
DOCUMENTS
Mayor's emails:
We examined more than a thousand files with emails sent to Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin on the day of the tragedy and the days that followed.
Here is some of what was included:
- Several media requests
- Several mayors’ offices around the country offered assistance, including the former mayor of Parkland, FL. The Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Orlando reached out and offered condolences and shared a document they created about how to handle mass shooting response form a city perspective. “Correct misinformation” is high on the priority list
- Funeral homes offering to help with services
- Backlash for the May 25 press conference where then-gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke interrupted. Mayor McLaughlin called him a “sick son of a b----” when that happened. Some emails are commending him, others are saying it was inappropriate.
- An Indiana teacher had each student write out a message of support for Uvalde residents
- Many PR pitches selling trauma books or school safety solutions
- On May 26, more emails start to come in focusing on the police response. We see mentions of “30 minutes” and similar timeframes. We now know it took 77 minutes for officers to enter the classrooms.
- On May 27, emails start coming in about UCISD Chief Pete Arredondo. People have learned that he’s set to be sworn in as a Uvalde city councilman. Many inquiries about whether that will still happen.
- May 29, early in the morning, councilmembers start emailing about how to handle the growing memorials and items people are leaving at the town square. "It will be a VERY sensitive subject and needs to be handled correctly,” Councilman Chip King writes. "Let's make sure the trash guys just don't start loading this stuff up and that there is a plan." He recommends reaching out to the district and the crisis center to see who can take charge.
- McLaughlin thanks a parent in Newtown for reaching out and asks for contact information for the principal of Columbine High School, Frank DeAngelis, and Pat Llondra, who led Newtown after their tragic shooting.
- Another example of miscommunication, Councilman Hector Luevano reaches out to colleagues on May 31 upon seeing that Uvalde PD and UCISD PD aren't cooperating with the investigation anymore. "Is that the case for UPD and if so who made that decision?” he asks. City Manager Vince DiPiazza replies: "This was news to me,” but then informs colleagues that DPS has clarified their statement to reflect that UPD is cooperating, but Pete Arredondo had stopped responding. He urges attorneys to keep council in the loop about what’s going on.
Uvalde Police Records - shooter’s social media:
- There’s a series of screenshots from the shooter’s Instagram showing messages he sent in the days leading up to the tragedy, including an Instagram story showing two rifles.
Pete Arredondo Election Records:
- This records release also included documents related to Pete Arredondo’s election to city council and his swearing in at the end of May 2022.
Police responses to the shooter’s home:
- These records go back decades, detailing domestic incidents between the shooter’s mother and father. Both were arrested in some of these cases, which date back to 2000.
TEXT MESSAGES
These documents contain text chains between several members of the Uvalde Police Department, including officers, leaders, and dispatchers.
Here are some snippets of the conversations:
At 11:38 am, DPS Captain Joel Betancourt texts the Uvalde PD Chief and Uvalde County Sheriff, “Reports of a school shooting in Uvalde. Are they valid?”
“Yes,” Nolasco replies, minutes later adding “Barricaded at the school.”
Betancourt responds: “Do you have a command post set up?”
In another thread, a SWAT officer asks in a group chat, "Is there a way to get our pictures off of the PD website for our safety..?..take the website down." They talk about concerns going out in public and to the grocery store.
On May 27, officers are in a group chat saying they should compile a list of the victim's parent's names, addresses, and contact info. One asks if DPS has that info. "We are working on the list, we should have it," Lt. Mariano Pargas replies.
From an officer to Chief Rodriguez: "No...just pissed off..!!..the DPS director just through everyone under the bus..!!!"
This was sent after a May 27 news conference.
Uvalde's automated tip messages were inundated starting on May 26 with messages like: "my follow up tip is get f*****," "it appears your officer's courage got stolen. Cowards," and "Shame on you. Cowards."
There are dozens of pages of messages like that.
On Sunday, May 29, an officer confirms to a Facebook rep that they are "managing who can comment as you recommended." Those restrictions are still active as of this afternoon.
REDACTED AUDIO FILES
The city released 911 calls as well as other audio files that were redacted.
Here are snippets of some of those recordings:
12:10 PM: This file contains 17 minutes of audio, containing dispatch officers calling back Khloie Torres.
12:16 PM: This file contains files from calls Acting UPD chief Mariano Pargas made to dispatch.
Pargas is also a county commissioner. He is still on the county commissioner's court.
Dispatch informs Pargas of Torres’ call. They tell him that there 8-9 still alive. He acknowledges it and then hangs up.
BODY CAMERA
Our reporters went through several body camera videos and have provided a minute-by-minute guide to what they show.
Coronado Body Cam:
11:35-11:36 a.m.: Coronado runs on the side of school and said, “be careful he might be in the building.” Shots are heard and Coronado said “oh s– shots fired. Shots fired inside the building.” He said to get inside.
11:36-11:37 a.m.: Coronado runs inside the building and smoke fills the hallway as you hear someone say “it’s an AR.”
11:37 a.m.: more shots go off and someone yells “he’s in the classroom on the right.”
11:38 a.m.: Coronado runs back outside and he radios they have the shooter contained. He said the gunman has an AR.
11:40 a.m.: There is a call for ballistic shields that goes out from Coronado. He said the gunman is inside on the West side of the building and believe him to be barricaded but still shooting.
11:41 a.m.: There is a call for gear, including flash bangs, goes out from Coronado. Adrian Gonzales radios to someone.
11:42 a.m.: Radio call said the gunman is in Mireles’ classroom and to check if they’re in session. Gonzales radios to check if they’re in session.
11:43 a.m.: Radio call said Mireles’ class should be in session right now.
11:44 a.m.: Coronado said he has officers available to keep everybody back. He asks if anyone has flash bangs.
11:47 a.m.: Coronado calls out what they know about the gunman and said he has “shot several times out the window towards the east.”
11:50 a.m.: Coronado said the gunman has shot “40-50 rounds at least.”
11:51 a.m.: Coronado said “Chief’s in charge right now.”
11:54 a.m.: Someone said “no one has made contact with [the gunman].”
11:57 a.m.: Someone asks to check to make sure kids are not in the classroom with the gunman. “It’s either 111 or 112.”
12:01 p.m.: Coronado said he is trying to open a window but it’s stuck. Someone makes a call to try and contact the teacher in 103 to open the window.
12:02 p.m.: More people are taken to safety.
12:10 p.m.: Coronado heads inside Robb Elementary.
12:10 p.m.: Coronado goes through a classroom to clear it (it’s clear). Coronado offers to break open a window to the classroom but Arredondo said no because he doesn’t want to create something additional for the shooter.
12:11 p.m.: Someone is asking if there’s any kids in the room and said “this can be peaceful.”
12:15 p.m.: Coronado asks to ensure no one is in the line of fire as he believes some people are.
12:16 p.m.: Someone offscreen said, “I just need a key, man.”
12:17 p.m.: Coronado tells Arredondo to be careful when moving down the hallway.
12:18 p.m.: Arredondo said he sees kids in a classroom [Ms. Avila's sign is seen on-camera]. They try to use a knife to open the door.
12:19 p.m.: Coronado asks if there are any breacher tools. Arredondo said, ‘police, open the door.’
12:20 p.m.: Officers continue to quietly call ‘police, police’ at Ms. Avila’s classroom.
12:21 p.m.: Coronado again asks for a breacher tool. Three shots are fired. Officers said, ‘can you hear me sir.’
12:22-12:27 p.m.: They suggest breaking a window to get kids out of a classroom. Arredondo calls out to shooter and said, “they don’t want anyone else hurt.” They talk again about the people in the classroom they’ve been trying to evacuate from the room they looked inside. Arredondo said there will be questions about why they are taking so long.
12:28 p.m.: Still looking for a master key. Arredondo said they’re still looking for a master key. Arredondo asks a custodian to come to the south door as he believes they might have a master key. Arredondo said, ‘Kubich’ is on his way and should have a master key.
12:35 p.m.: Arredondo pops up. There are lots of officers standing in the hallway, saying the shooter can shoot through the walls.
12:50 p.m.: Shooter is down “Watch the kids– talking about survivors.”
POST-BREACH:
12:51 p.m.: 'Where’s the suspect? He’s down.'
12:53 p.m.: ‘Everybody that’s not a medic–out!’
12:54 p.m.: Blurred as Coronado looks towards both classrooms.
12:55 p.m.: Asking for tactical to help clear the rooms one more time– video unblurred as someone steps in front and blocks view.
12:56 p.m.: Saying injured are outside– video blurs.
12:56 p.m.: Asking who had the master key they used to breach.
12:57 p.m.: Arredondo is heard saying ‘thank you for your help’ to officers.
12:57 p.m.: Master key was put on the table.
12:58 p.m.: Coronado picks up keys and uses them to unlock another door. A group of officers, including Coronado, go to clear rooms.
Just before 1:00 p.m.: Coronado goes to Arredondo. Arredondo is telling Coronado what to do next. Saying once they clear everything every entrance needs to be blocked off, ‘then we’ll tape this all off.' Coronado ‘Do you want to start taping off the outer perimeter?’ Arredondo is on a call with someone he calls ‘Mike’ and doesn’t immediately answer Coronado. Arredondo said ‘to me we need to do the whole school, the whole grounds. We need to do the whole Robb school so nobody comes in anywhere.’
Someone (not Coronado) asks Arredondo if they’re crime scene-ing the whole school and Arredondo said ‘yes.’ Coronado and Arredondo are walking side by side.
Just after 1:00 p.m.: Arredondo is introduced to some officers and they say they’re here to help however they can. Arredondo said no active scene. Coronado starts talking about the grandma who was shot.
Some confusion about if the building has been cleared and they’re trying to clarify.
1:03 p.m.: Coronado “I’m following you Chief.” Arredondo said ‘Appreciate you Sheriff’-- Sheriff on the scene, confirmed. Arredondo told the Rangers to close ‘it.’ Rangers say they need the names of everyone who was on the scene while everything was happening. Arredondo introduces himself to the Rangers. People shouting to ‘leave everything the way it is.' The doors to the hallway appear to be closed.
1:05 p.m.: In the hall of Robb Elementary, officials are heard off-screen saying they have a Captain and a Lt. at the door who set up a command post. Coronado asks if the Captain is in the hallway.
1:06 p.m.: A person who appears to be an EMT walks in and said they want to confirm where and for whom their services are needed. Arredondo takes a phone call.
1:07 p.m.:Someone asks “We got somebody with Ruben [Ruiz]?” People respond they don’t know where he’s at while someone else calls for a second medic.
1:08 p.m.: Arredondo said on the phone with an unknown person that the suspect should be deceased. Crews start walking down the hallway, officials get everyone’s information (name, department, role) before they walk down the hallway. Coronado and Arredondo start walking down the hallway toward classrooms 111 and 112.
1:09 p.m.: Coronado tells Arredondo to be aware of what’s in the hallway.
1:10 p.m.: Coronado is looking for Cpt. Bettancort and he is not found him in either of the classrooms. Arredondo said he’s going to try and find the command post and they go outside.
1:10 p.m.: Coronado and Arredondo are now outside, and helicopters are heard in the distance.
1:11 p.m.: Sheriff Ruben Nolasco speaks with Arredondo and Hernandez.
1:12 p.m.: Discussions are had about where the command post is.
1:14-1:15 p.m.: Arredondo and the Sheriff discuss a deceased person outside the building.
1:15 p.m.: Coronado makes a call to block off the fence and set up a perimeter around the fence line.
1:16 p.m.: Someone said the Texas Rangers are coming to take photos.
1:18 p.m.: Advisory goes out saying no more EMS is needed. A call is set up to put a perimeter on the fence. Adrian Gonzales can be seen at this time.
1:20 p.m.: They discuss how and where they went inside and who they spoke to. Someone off-camera explains why they told people to stand back. “Rounds started coming in through the inside and that’s when I told them they’re coming in this way and that’s when I told them to stand back because they were coming in.”
1:21 p.m.: Coronado said he could hear suppressive fire. Someone expresses concern for Ruben.
1:22 p.m.: Arredondo is talking to an unknown person saying they’re going to set up the incident command post at the funeral home (across the street). Arredondo said there will be commanders from everywhere. He said DPS should have everything they need to help them handle the situation.
1:23 p.m.: Arredondo said, “everything is secure here.”
1:24 p.m.: Arredondo said he’s going to go talk to ‘Mandy’ as they’re working on a head count. Coronado asks if he wants him to follow or stay. Someone said Arredondo is set to talk to the Robb Principal and Superintendent. Coronado and officers discuss the shooter and who he lives with/where.
1:25 p.m.: Officials said they’re trying to identify everybody.
1:26 p.m.:Coronado goes back inside after getting dispatch on the line. Initial call came out at 11:30 am from a female who saw him crash and run towards the school with a gun.
1:27 p.m.: Dispatch confirms the vehicle came back to the gunman’s address. Dispatch said they will look to see if there are any incidents, she said the uncle of the gunman wants to talk to somebody.
1:28 p.m.: Dispatch said the only thing the uncle said the gunman was griping about was his grandmother. She confirms the gunman was at the uncle’s house the night before the massacre.
1:30 p.m.: Call with dispatch ends.
1:31 p.m.: Hernandez makes a call and asks the person on the line to print out everything they can on the gunman’s records but not to tell anything to anyone.
1:31 p.m.: Coronado goes back outside. Officials discuss who the gunman is.
1:32-1:34 p.m.: Coronado is interviewed about making entry to the building. He is asked what he did more or less when he went into the building. He said they [Coronado and Arredondo] had rounds firing at them from inside the building. They got to the door and said he was shot at and ‘it’s on body cam.’ Coronado is asked what else he did and he said “trying to find a way to get [into the classroom].” Another helicopter is seen in the distance. Coronado said they went around to all the windows “to break them and get the kids out.”
1:34 p.m.: Someone asks where Ruben is and that someone needs to stick with him.
1:35 p.m.- 1:37p.m. : Coronado is outside and you see police tape up and surrounding the school. You can also hear a chopper in the background (can’t tell if it’s a police or hospital chopper). You see a chopper on the ground while a group of officers stood by, talking discussing the shooting (who was shot and how many were shot).
1:37 p.m.: An officer, who is wearing a UCISD Police patch and appears to be Adrian Gonzales appears on-camera.
1:35 p.m.: Coronado is outside. You see police tape up and surrounding the school.
1:36 p.m.: Group of officers standing by, discussing the shooting.
1:37 p.m.: An officer, who is wearing a UCISD Police patch, said, ‘I’d say at least eight to 10 kids [were shot].”
Mendoza, Justin Body Cam:
11:25 am: Where’s he at?’ ‘I don’t know, I don’t know?’
11:26 am: ‘This way, this way, come over here! They said west’ (unclear who they is)-- trying to find gunman.
11:27 am: Radio transmission said the shooter could possibly be in the building.
11:27 am: ‘Shots fired inside the building!’
11:28 am: Cars are heard racing to the scene.
11:29 am: A number of people are seen running the perimeter of the building. ‘This building right here, this building!’ (they're at Robb but trying to figure out which hallway he is in). Told the subject has an AR.
11:30 am: They are stationed outside of doors, asking where the gunman is.
11:31 am: They are still stationed outside the school doors– appears to be in the backside of the building. Radio transmission said to contact more people to ensure they’re aware as well. Advised the shooter is in the building and is ‘contained’
11:32 am: Still outside. Said subject is barricaded and goes through phone texts(blurred). Said there’s an active shooter at the school to someone who calls.
11:33 am: Still outside. Acknowledges the shooter is shooting kids.
11:34 am: Still outside. Told the shooter is in room 111/112. Mendoza enters ‘I have a rifle.' Asks where the room is– he is given directions.
11:35 am: Mendoza is now inside the building. His body cam shows officers huddled in hallway. He runs outside to warn about shooter possibly taking out windows and for officers to not stand by them– Crimson Elizondo seen on footage.
11:36 am: Mendoza is back inside. Asking about a room and if teacher needs to get out. Officers go into room next door to where group of officers are.
11:37-11:49 am: In hallway. Debating where the crossfire will happen.
Officers in hallway (including Mendoza– down the hallway from the classrooms)
11:39 am: Someone leaves to get a bullhorn.
11:39 am: They acknowledge having a shield.
11:40 am: There’s an ask for more shields.
11:41 am: ‘I want to get in there trust me but they can’t [get the shields to them] in the traffic.’
11:42 am: They say 401 (Pete?) is not with the shooter. They ask ‘who’s hit?’
11:44 Mendoza said ‘He’s on the phone with Pete’ (unclear who he is)
11:46 am: J.J. Suarez spotted inside. Suarez holds several hats in the community including current/at the time UCISD school board trustee.
11:48 am: Ruben Ruiz comes back into the school. Everyone is saying ‘hey, hey, hey Ruben’ Ruben said ‘he said she’s shot Johnny’ (she is referring to Eva Mireles, Ruben’s wife). Pargas is seen taking Ruben outside the school again.
11:49 am: They say they’re waiting for a negotiator and more shields. They say they can’t shoot in there because there’s kids in [the classroom]. Someone said ‘the kids don’t want to come out of the classroom?’ Officers in hallway say Arredondo is communicating.
11:50 am: Mendoza goes to help clear a room (it was clear). Officers run a woman out of her classroom– appears to be the only person in the classroom (deemed clear).
11:51 am: Mendoza is back in hallway.
11:53 am: They talk about a backpack outside–trying to determine if there is ID in it. Told families are running up and again ask for more shields as person with more is caught in traffic.
Martinez Body Cam:
12:21 pm-12:22 pm: Outside directing traffic
12:21 pm: Asking for help to get vehicles out of the way.
12:22 pm: Martinez told to help with the perimeter via radio transmission
12:22 pm: Uvalde City Councilman Chip is seen on camera. He said he’s on the scene with the Fire Department and has a radio. Asks where they are taking everyone, which Martinez said the Civic Center.
12:23 pm- 12:26 pm: Martinez in vehicle
12:26- end of the video: Martinez is back outside
12:26 pm: Martinez said they need to clear vehicles because it’s causing a log jam if they need to get anyone out of the scene.
12:27 pm: Martinez and another officer on scene address a guy who is asking to go down the street. He is allowed to turn after they talk.
Martinez Body Cam:
12:45 pm: Martinez is outside directing traffic.
12:45 pm: Someone asks where they can find their children and he said at The Civic Center.
12:46 pm: Martinez turns around, a number of official vehicles are seen lining the roadway.
12:49 pm: Dispatch advises the uncle of the gunman is on 911 and asking to help.
12:50 pm: ‘Subject in custody. One in custody, one in custody is called out over the radios.’ (referring to gunman).
12:51 pm: Radio call confirms it is the shooter in custody.
12:52 pm: All PD units advised over radios the shooter is in custody.
12:55 pm: Advised to stay out of the way of helicopters.
12:55 pm: Asked for someone for command post.
12:58 pm: Martinez is on the phone with someone asking them about their whereabouts or if they’re at lunch.
1:01 pm: Someone comes up asking questions to Martinez. Martinez said they’ll be in the area as they’re confirming there are no additional shooters.
1:02 pm: They said only emergency vehicles or pedestrians of those who live on the street can walk through the area.
1:03 pm: You start to see some official vehicles leaving the area.
1:06 pm: A call goes out for anyone who needs to be medevac or taken away from the scene.
Hill Body Cam:
11:36 p.m.: Told the units are going to Robb and he is outside. They are trying to set up a perimeter but are outside with guns drawn to school.
Canales Body Cam:
12:24 p.m.: Shots are fired and Canales asks if he’s bleeding. He said the gunman is shooting the classroom. “We need to get in there he keeps shooting.”
12:25 p.m.: Canales checked to see if he was shot. Another shot goes off.
12:26 p.m.: Canales said he’s bleeding from his ear.
1:08 p.m.-1:10 p.m.: He is inside the hallway and there is discussion about the situation and questions if the door is locked.
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The delayed law enforcement response to the shooting has been widely condemned as a massive failure: Nearly 400 officers waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the gunman in a classroom filled with dead and wounded children and teachers. Families of the victims have long sought accountability for the slow police response in the South Texas city of about 15,000 people 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of San Antonio.
Brett Cross’ 10-year-old nephew, Uziyah Garcia, was among those killed. Cross, who was raising the boy as a son, was angered that relatives weren’t told the records were being released and that it took so long for them to be made public.
“If we thought we could get anything we wanted, we’d ask for a time machine to go back ... and save our children, but we can’t, so all we are asking for is for justice, accountability and transparency, and they refuse to give this to us,” he said.
Jesse Rizo, whose 9-year-old niece Jacklyn Cazares was killed in the shooting, said the release of information Saturday reignited festering anger because it shows "the waiting and waiting and waiting” of law enforcement.
"Perhaps if they were to have breached earlier, they would have saved some lives, including my niece’s,” he said.
