Uvalde CISD police chief not responding to investigators 5/31/22 Transcript

Sharon Ko: (00:00)
As families mourn, they are demanding answers about how police responded to the shooting. Today, they’ve met with another version of the story, which only complicates the timeline. KENS 5 reporter Matt Houston is live with the latest mix up. Matt.

Matt Houston: (00:14)
Sharon, seven days since that shooting. And it seems we have gotten seven different stories or explanations for what really happened at Robb Elementary. Tonight, another significant revision, and a new barrier that may hinder investigators trying to get an answer for you.

Steven McCraw: (00:31)
We’ve got him going into these rooms.

Matt Houston: (00:33)
State investigators said, Friday, a teacher propped open Robb Elementary’s rear door just a minute before the shooter crashed in a nearby ditch. An attorney tells the Express News that teacher was getting food from her car when she saw the wreck and ran back inside to call 911. Today, DPS is correcting this account of what happened next.

Steven McCraw: (00:55)
The teacher runs to the room 132 to retrieve a phone, and that same teacher walks back to the exit door and door remains propped open.

Matt Houston: (01:03)
Troopers now confirm the teacher did shut the door behind her. Her attorney tells the paper she even pulled against it and, “Thought the door would lock because that door is always supposed to be locked.” Investigators say they’re now trying to determine why it didn’t lock. Today’s revision is the latest in a string of corrections, which have frustrated local and state officials.

Speaker 4: (01:25)
I was misled.

Matt Houston: (01:26)
But more confusion may follow because DPS says UCISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo hasn’t answered their calls in two days. In fact, they say he hasn’t conducted a single follow-up interview since he initially told them what happened. DPS head Steve McCraw blamed Arredondo as the commander in charge for waiting to barge into the classroom and kill the shooter, even as children begged 911 dispatchers for help. DPS tells us Uvalde police and UCISD police are cooperating with their investigation, contrary to some reports you may have seen today. It appears the UCISD chief is the only one investigators have had a hard time getting a hold of. Live on the Northwest side, I’m Matt Houston, KENS 5.

Sharon Ko: (02:15)
We are following breaking news tonight about School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo. He just became a member of Uvalde City Council. The mayor tells us in a statement late tonight, City Council members were sworn in today without a ceremony out of respect for victims’ families. Arredondo was elected to the District 3 seat earlier this month. The mayor said yesterday, Arredondo was duly elected. “There is nothing in the City Charter, Election Code or Texas Constitution that prohibits him from taking the oath of office.” The mayor also told us yesterday tonight’s special City Council meeting would not happen as scheduled.