Onlookers urged police to charge into Texas elementary school soon after shooting began

WMUR News ^ | May 25, 2022 | AP

[freeandfreezing]

Onlookers urged police officers to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunman's rampage killed 19 children and two teachers, a witness said Wednesday, as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team.

Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said it was “within 40 minutes or so" from when Ramos opened fire on the school security officer and when the SWAT-like Border Patrol team shot him. Law enforcement officials later said it was unclear if the gunman and the security officer had fired on one another.

[freeandfreezing]

This seems like another example of a slow police response to an active shooter situation. Apparently after the initial exchange of gunfire the officers on the scene waited for a SWAT team to arrive.

The story from police sources seems to keep shifting.

[freeandfreezing]

"NBC News: The gunman in Uvalde, TX wore body armor during the attack and initial officers were unable to bring down the shooter and had to wait for tactical teams in order to finally stop the gunman, per Texas DPS to @BreakingChesky at the scene."

Tom Winter Twitter post

"UPDATE Wednesday 7:45amET:

"Texas DPS now says the shooter had a tactical carrier which can be fitted with ballistic protection or it may not be fitted with that protection. It was not body armor they say, upon further review of the scene."

Tom Winter Twitter post

[Eagles6]

40 minutes?
And they know he’s in the school and are hearing gunshots?
I’ll wait for the timeline to be confirmed, but...

[freeandfreezing]

"A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said the Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key."

Don't SWAT teams practice breaching doors?

[Bayard]

Mall cops are not security in shooter situations.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

This seems to be an attempt by the AP to stir up crap.

[freeandfreezing]

I am as stunned as you are. How could that be?

[God luvs America]

Seems like Parkland all over again- didn’t they refuse to go into the school and the lead cop was eventually fired because he stayed outside?

[freeandfreezing]

The same kind of timeline has been reported by many media outlets, and law enforcement spokesmen are saying similar things. There are some variations of the story, but the details will come out over time.

[Eagles6]

The way that I read the story, there was a school security officer and 2 other police, on scene, when he went in.

[DoughtyOne]

I don’t think charging in is as easy as it may seem.

The guy isn’t going to go easy. He’s going to surround
himself with kids and fire at you. How many kids should
the police be willing to kill, to get the attacker?

Yeah, we’d all like to see the first officers on the scene
end this in moments. I’m not convinced that realistic.

Perhaps other see a sure fired way to execute a take
down, better than I do.

[LeoWindhorse]

The fencing surrounding the school campus was only 4 ft. high, the shooter simply hopped the fence .
School security fencing should be 8-10 ft, chainlink, with an energized top wire.
Create much more easily monitored and controlled points of access, where guards could be placed.

[Secret Agent Man]

Why didn’t any and all adult onlookers charge into the building?

[from occupied ga]

America’s heroes don’t like to take risks with their precious hides. Kind of like the Stoneman Douglas HS shooting in Florida.

[OHPatriot]

40 minutes? F*cking Cowards. NO LEO life is worth more than that of a child. Active shooter ,you attack not stick your thumb up your ass

[freeandfreezing]

Here is another article from the BBC quoting US media sources and a Texas DPS representative.

[Theoria]

'School security fencing should be 8-10 ft, chainlink, with an energized top wire. Create much more easily monitored and controlled points of access, where guards could be placed.'

Nuts. That's a prison. Life is about living. Allowing freaks to change our behavior is bs. That is a wot reaction, that we have to change, aka freaks and nuts win.

[freeandfreezing]

That has been reported from several sources. Some reports say the first exchange of gunfire was outside of the school, more recent statements from police spokesman are less direct on that point.

Apparently the 3 officers did not continue their assault on the shooter.

[Eagles6]

I agree, but I’ll wait until confirmed.
Too much of what is immediately reported turns out to be incorrect, in just about every story.

[Fury]

Re: 6/- How so? Reporting this:

“Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said “40 minutes or so” elapsed from when Ramos opened fire on the school security officer and when the SWAT-like Border Patrol team shot him.”

is not stirring up anything.