So far, in 2022, there have been 30 shootings in K-12 schools. The shooting at Robb Elementary School is the latest incident – the incident is also the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook. Robb Elementary School is located at 715 Old Carrizo Rd in Uvalde, Texas. The school has students in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. The shooter has been identified as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old from Uvalde, Texas. The shooter entered the school through a back door that was left propped open. He killed 19 children and 2 teachers.
What Happened at Robb Elementary School?
As more details become available, more questions are being raised, specifically questions about why it took so long for authorities to take action after arriving at the scene. After shooting his grandmother at her home, the shooter drove to the school, crashing his grandmother’s truck into a ditch near the school at around 11:28am. The exited the vehicle and shot at two people across the street. A teacher, who had a backdoor of the school propped open witnessed the crash and the shooting and ran inside to call 911. The call went through at 11:30am. The teacher left the backdoor propped open – it is important to note that this backdoor would have normally been closed and locked.
The shooter approached the school and started shooting into windows. A school resource officer who was not on campus at the time responded to the 911 call but failed to see the shooter as he was crouched behind a vehicle. The shooter was able to enter the school at 11:33am through the same back door that had been left propped open just a few minutes prior. At this time, the shooter entered Room 111 and 112 – which were adjoining classrooms. According to reports, a teacher had rushed towards the door to lock it as soon as she was alerted of the shooter, but the shooter was already at the door. The shooter shot out the door window and accessed the classroom. He then shot the teacher as she tried to back away. He then shot at students.
At 11:35am, just two minutes after the shooter entered the school, 7 officers arrived at the scene. The approached the locked classroom but waited in the hallway. The shooter shot at them (from behind the door) and 2 officers suffered graze wounds – but they did not enter the classrooms. During the 7 minutes between 11:37am and 11:44am, the shooter shot 16 additional rounds within the classrooms. At this time, the school released a message to parents, which caused parents to flock to the school – desperate parents on-site urged the authorities to take action.
By 12:03pm, there were 19 officers in the hallway – they took no action as they were allegedly waiting for equipment and for a tactical team to arrive. At this time, a female student called 911 pleading for help. She confirmed that there were many fatalities. This same student called back multiple times. During one call, she stated that 8 to 9 students were still alive. At 12:15 a tactical team arrived with shields – still, they waited out in the hallway. At 12:21pm, there was more gunfire.
The last 911 call from students inside the classrooms was received at 12:36pm.
It wasn’t until 12:50pm that the tactical team entered the classroom and killed the shooter.
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Did the Authorities Fail Students?
A total of 80 minutes passed from the moment that the shooter entered the school from the backdoor until he was killed. Just two minutes after the shooter entered the school, the authorities responded – but they just waited out in the hallway while more students were massacred. Apparently, the authorities that were waiting out in the hallway were under the impression that there were no survivors in the classroom and that’s why it took 80 minutes to enter the classroom.
Col. Steven McCraw, with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said that the failure to take any action and enter the classroom was based on the belief that the situation “had transitioned form an active shooter to a barricaded subject.” According to McCraw, the on-scene commandeer believed that there “may not be anybody living anymore and that the subject [was trying to] keep law enforcement at bay or entice them to come in [the classroom].”
Meanwhile, desperate students inside Rooms 111 and 112 were calling 911 pleading for help. These calls confirmed that there were survivors in the classrooms.
Since the shooting, the authorities have acknowledged that they could have responded differently and that mistakes were made. The authorities were ineffective. The number of injuries and casualties increased significantly because of their incompetence. There was officers outside the classroom just two minutes after shooter entered, yet no action was taken. What would have happened if the authorities had taken immediate action. Many people believe that teachers and students would have been saved.
Undeniable, the negligence and failures of the authorities that responded to the school shooting contributed to its severity.
Did the School Also Fail the Students?
Reports mention that a teacher who had propped the backdoor open and witnessed the crash and initial shooting went back inside to call 911 but failed to close the door. Ultimately, the shooter was able to enter the elementary school through this back door that had been left open. Some might argue that the teacher’s reaction was normal – to run and get help. However, the fact that the teacher had propped open the door and left the door open after seeing the shooter raises many questions: questions about school safety and training protocols. Was this an emergency door? Was this back door supposed to remained locked at all times? Why was the door opened? Why was the door left propped open? Was other staff aware that the back door was open? And perhaps most importantly – would the shooter have been able to enter the school if this back door wouldn’t have been left open?
School Shooting – Fatalities, Injuries, and Mental and Emotional Trauma
A total of 21 people died at Robb Elementary School – 19 children and 2 teachers, all completely innocent. Surviving students suffered injurie ranging in severity, including severe gunshot wounds to graze wounds. All students, including the injured and uninjured, suffered extreme mental and emotional distress. The trauma that students experienced during the shooting is likely to change their lives forever. Some students have made statements recounting how they had to cover themselves in the blood of their friends and play dead – all in hopes of surviving the shooting. Other students have said that they never want to step foot in school ever again. These students will likely suffer a host of mental and emotional issues, including anxiety disorders, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, depression, etc. Likewise, the family of the deceased and surviving students, alike, are likely to suffer from this mental and emotional distress.
Do You Have the Right to Sue?
Yes – if a member of your family was killed or injured in the school shooting at Robb Elementary School at Uvalde, Texas, you could have grounds to sue. You could have grounds to file an injury claim or a wrongful death claim, for example. You could also have grounds to sue for the mental and emotional distress resulting from the incident. After all, if the authorities had responded quicker or if maybe the school’s backdoor was closed as it should have been, maybe the incident could have been avoided – or the number of injured and killed would have been much less. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, we are completely devastated by this senseless act. We are ready to take action against all negligent parties.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
Our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of injury claims. We also have experience in school shooting cases – unfortunately, these cases have become more common over the years. We are dedicated to our clients and to helping them recover the highest payout available for their claims. No matter whether you are pursuing an injury claim or a wrongful death claim, we can help you. We are proud to offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. We offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, so our clients will never have to worry about paying upfront legal costs. In addition,
