UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde County officials have agreed to release records related to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, where 19 students and two teachers lost their lives. The decision, made on Monday, ends a protracted legal battle over the public disclosure of key information about one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
Related Article: Remembering the Victims and Heroes of the Robb Elementary School Tragedy
The Uvalde County commissioners, in a 2-1 vote, agreed to release the records and to stop appealing a 2022 lawsuit filed by a coalition of media organizations, reports KCRA. The lawsuit aimed to compel the county and the school district to disclose information related to the tragedy.
This decision comes shortly after the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s board had a similar move last week, voting to release its records, reports CBS Austin. Both decisions followed a July 16 ruling by a Texas appeals court that upheld a lower court order mandating the release of the information.
While family members of the victims and media outlets have been advocating for transparency, neither the county nor the school district have provided a timeline for when these records will be made public.
Key Robb Elementary School Shooting Records Expected to Be Released
The records from Uvalde County include:
- Incident and 911 reports concerning Robb Elementary and other locations
- Video footage
- Ballistics and evidence logs
- Reports on law enforcement interactions with the shooter and his mother
The school district’s records expected for release include:
- Body-worn and security camera footage from Robb Elementary
- Student files for the shooter
- Records related to Pete Arredondo, the former Uvalde schools police chief
Arredondo, who was later indicted over his handling of the shooting response, and former school officer Adrian Gonzales have both pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of child abandonment and endangerment. Their trials are scheduled for October 20.
Related Article: Uvalde Releases Missing Robb Elementary Police Footage
City officials in Uvalde released their records in August 2024, adding another layer of transparency to the investigation. However, the Texas Department of Public Safety continues to resist releasing its records and is involved in a separate lawsuit filed by media organizations.
Uvalde’s Long-Term Impact on School Security
The Robb Elementary shooting, which occurred on May 24, 2022, has led to significant changes in school security measures across Texas. The state’s education agency now conducts intruder detection audits to test campus access control. Furthermore, all K-12 campuses are now required to have an armed officer on site as part of enhanced safety protocols.
This latest step by both the county and the school district reflects growing pressure for accountability and transparency in the wake of one of the nation’s most tragic school shootings.
