UVALDE, Texas—“We were failed by Pete Arredondo,” Brett Cross, guardian of Uziyah Garcia, a Robb Elementary fourth grader who died in the May 24 mass shooting at the school, told the Uvalde, Texas, Consolidated Independent School District board on June 20.
“He killed our kids, teachers, parents, and city, and by keeping him on your staff, y’all are continuing to fail us.”
Cross joined about 120 Uvalde residents at the school board meeting, with several speaking publicly and pleading for the board to fire or at least suspend Arredondo, the school district’s police chief.
“Having Pete still employed, knowing he is incapable of decision-making that saves lives, is terrifying,” Cross said, adding that he has four other children at local schools.
Police officers were inside the school building within two minutes of Ramos gaining entry through an unlocked door, but didn’t stop him until 77 minutes later, according to a timeline provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
McCraw also said the door of the classroom where the massacre occurred couldn’t have been locked from the inside.
“The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children,” he said.
In a tearful speech, the father of victim Amerie Jo Garza called for accountability.
“It’s pretty clear what everyone wants here. We all know that they messed up. We all know that this wasn’t handled right,” he said.
“Most of these parents don’t want to be here. But we’re here because we have to speak for our children, because they can’t speak for themselves anymore.
“I had officers from the department look me in the eye—because I was trying so hard to get in there—and ask me to trust them,” Garza’s father said.
“How are we supposed to continue our lives here, knowing that those people that are supposed to protect us let down our family?”
Jesus Rizo Jr. said he was at the school board meeting to talk about accountability on behalf of friends and family.
“The thing that I can’t wrap my mind around is—how is Mr. Arredondo still with the program?” he said. “How is he still employed? It’s an insult to injury, these people are in pain, and you allow this to happen.”
“The children that didn’t make it—we don’t hear their voice anymore, but I promise you one thing: We will speak for them. You will hear their voice through us until accountability takes place,” Rizo said.
Javier Cazares, father of 9-year-old Jacklyn Cazares, who also was killed in the mass shooting, questioned the board about its documented school safety and security measures, which he said were insufficient at Robb, including the perimeter fencing, security cameras, and door security.
The 16-year-old daughter of slain teacher Irma Garcia spoke about the loss of both parents, as her father died from a heart attack two days after his wife was killed.
“I need you to know that the horrifying manner in which my mother was murdered and taken from us completely shattered our hearts, but made my dad’s stop,” Lyliana Garcia said.
Garcia, one of four siblings, said Father’s Day, two days prior to the board meeting, was the first of many “lonely family occasions.”
The family had also been looking forward to celebrating their parents’ wedding anniversary on June 28.
“The table we sat at with absolute joy and laughter is now quiet and holds two empty seats,” Garcia said.
“The knowledge of being orphaned at such a young age is inconceivable. These are the consequences my family has to suffer due to the lack of due diligence.”
Garcia finished by sharing her 12-year-old sister’s question.
“She said, ‘My mom died protecting her students, but who was protecting my mom?’” Garcia said. “This will always haunt me and should always haunt all of you.”
Monica Saiz-Martinez heard every gunshot on May 24 as she was working at Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, across the road from Robb Elementary. She said she and coworkers directed fleeing children to the funeral home for shelter during and after the massacre.
Saiz-Martinez said she had tried to contact the school several times prior to May 24 because she had concerns over security, especially a main gate that was often left open.
“On a couple of occasions last year, towards the end of the school year, there were some bailouts in the vicinity of Robb school. One that resulted in a high-speed chase that caused a wreck in the same canal Salvador Ramos crashed in,” she said.
“I called the school on several occasions hoping to get an answer as to why this gate was open. My attempts failed when no one answered my calls.”
Uvalde had been having problems with high-speed chases of smugglers’ vehicles transporting illegal aliens through town. Often the driver would stop and the vehicle’s occupants would flee from law enforcement, known as a bailout.
Saiz-Martinez said that because of the bailouts near the school, district police should have had security at the gate.
“Had there been security at this gate, I truly believe the shooter would not have entered Robb school and these children would be here with us today,” she said.
The Texas Senate is holding two days of hearings beginning June 21 to hear testimony on school safety, police training, social media, mental health, and firearms safety.
