UVALDE, Texas (Washington Insider Magazine) – The principal of the Texas elementary school where one of the bloodiest mass shootings in US history occurred was among the witnesses who spoke before state legislators during the opening hearing in a special inquiry into the atrocity on Thursday.
The events surrounding the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last month are being investigated by a legislative committee.
According to ABC NEWS, state legislators were joined by law enforcement officers, lawyers, and several community members inside the Uvalde City Hall building on Thursday for the first day of hearings.
Mandy Gutierrez, the principal of Robb Elementary, met with President Joe Biden during his visit to Uvalde in the days following the shooting.
An assailant entered the school through an unlocked door and started shooting in a classroom, killing 19 kids and 2 teachers. It was the bloodiest shooting at a school in Texas history and the 2nd-deadliest nationwide.
A tactical unit broke the class door and shot the attacker after 77 minutes. Law enforcement has been condemned for failing to act quickly enough.
According to Texas state Rep. Dustin Burrows, head of the committee probing the shooting, the investigation would be neutral and nonpartisan.
Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman emphasized her optimism that the commission will generate the information needed by the lawmakers to safeguard children.
Following the public comments, the executive session commenced, during which witnesses were questioned privately.
Gutierrez and Hal Harrell, the superintendent of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, were among the witnesses who spoke on Thursday. On Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, the hearings will continue.
Burrows said last week that law enforcement authorities will also testify.
He suggested the committee might issue a preliminary report to the public before finishing its thorough inquiry.
