UVALDE, Texas — A special grand jury has been convened in Uvalde, Texas to investigate the delayed response by law enforcement to the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history. The shooting took place on May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, resulting in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers, as well as 17 others injured. The grand jury will be responsible for determining whether criminal charges can be filed against the officers involved in the incident, according to the Uvalde Leader-News.
Twelve individuals have been selected to serve on the jury in the 38th Judicial District Court. They will meet twice a month to hear testimony from witnesses regarding the shooting. Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell will present her case to the jury, which will then provide a recommendation at the conclusion of the investigation. Mitchell will subsequently decide whether to pursue criminal charges against any of the nearly 400 law enforcement officers who responded to the scene. Currently, it is not known which individuals may face charges, as the district attorney’s office has not made any public statements on the matter.
The release of a report by the Justice Department on Thursday shed light on the law enforcement response to the shooting. The report criticized former Uvalde school district Police Chief Pete Arredondo and Uvalde Police Department Acting Chief Mariano Pargas for their “lack of urgency” in their response to the incident. The report also identified Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco, Uvalde County Constables Emmanuel Zamora and Johnny Field, as well as an unidentified Texas Ranger, who allegedly failed to question the response of Arredondo and Pargas.
Families affected by the tragic event are hopeful that the grand jury’s investigation will lead to accountability. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter was among those killed, expressed satisfaction with the progress made. She has been a vocal advocate for gun reform and sees the jury’s convening as a step in the right direction. Federal officials, including U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, have deferred to the local district attorney to determine whether criminal charges should be brought against any of the officers involved.
Kirk Burkhalter, a Professor of Law at New York Law School, suspects that the law enforcement officers could potentially face charges such as manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and endangering or abandoning a child. Burkhalter believes that Chief Pete Arredondo will be the primary focus of the grand jury’s investigation, given the extent of the failures outlined in the Justice Department’s report.
The district attorney initiated a criminal investigation into the law enforcement failures shortly after the shooting. Initially expected to be completed by the end of November 2022, the investigation now looks set to continue into 2024, as confirmed by the district attorney herself. The convening of the grand jury was already in the works prior to the release of the DOJ report, as reported by The Uvalde Leader-News.
As the grand jury commences its investigation into the delayed law enforcement response to the tragic school shooting, the hopes for justice remain high among the affected families. The outcome of this inquiry will shape the narrative of accountability and determine the next course of legal action, if any, against the officers involved.