The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has now confirmed that the 18-year-old shooter — who killed at least 19 children and two adults on Tuesday — was not confronted by law enforcement before he entered Robb Elementary School through an unlocked door.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared the update in a tweet on Thursday, saying, “BREAKING: Texas DPS now says that there was no school police officer who encountered or engaged the mass shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. Shooter was not confronted before entry and it appears he walked into the school through an unlocked door, per DPS.”
BREAKING: Texas DPS now says that there was no school police officer who encountered or engaged the mass shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. Shooter was not confronted before entry and it appears he walked into the school through an unlocked door, per DPS. @FoxNews
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 26, 2022
Additionally, Breaking Points host Saagar Enjeti noted that DPS said officers “fell back” in order to reach “cover,” asking for tactical backup prior to making any attempt to breach the school while the shooter was inside.
DPS also confirmed that there was not an armed resource officer at the school at the time the shooter arrived.
Texas DPS official says there was not an armed resource officer at Robb Elementary School when the shooting occurred. pic.twitter.com/AXb8JVfgDe
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 26, 2022
Earlier reports had indicated that not only had the gunman been engaged — by either a school police officer or local law enforcement — prior to entering the school, but that the exchange of gunfire had resulted in him dropping a bag of ammunition that he might have used to shoot additional victims.
“Texas DPS tells me there was in fact a school police officer on campus at Robb Elementary who exchanged gunfire with the shooter and the officer was shot & injured. That is when the shooter ran inside the school, barricaded himself in a class, & began killing,” Melugin reported on Wednesday.
“Adding to this, TX DPS tells me three local officers were injured in the shooting, and as a result of the shootout with the school officer, the gunman dropped a bag of ammo he couldn’t bring inside. A responding Zavala County deputy engaged & had a weapon malfunction,” the report continued.
Adding to this, TX DPS tells me three local officers were injured in the shooting, and as a result of the shootout with the school officer, the gunman dropped a bag of ammo he couldn’t bring inside. A responding Zavala County deputy engaged & had a weapon malfunction. @FoxNews
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 25, 2022
The gunman, who reportedly shot his own grandmother prior to entering Robb Elementary, was later killed when Border Patrol agents were able to enter the school while he was engaged with local law enforcement.