Police in Texas made the 'wrong decision' not to storm the classroom sooner.
Colonel Steven McCraw stated that "in retrospect," the onsite commander's decision to delay entering the classroom was the "wrong decision."
A law enforcement official says officers who waited at least 40 minutes for backup before entering the classroom where a gunman killed 19 children made the "wrong decision."
On Tuesday morning, Salvador Ramos, 18, slaughtered 19 children and two teachers at Uvalde's Robb Elementary School.
The bloodbath lasted about 90 minutes before he was shot dead by police.
After days of speculation about the law enforcement response, Colonel Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, stated that "in retrospect," the onsite commander's decision to delay entering the classroom was the "wrong decision."
"I made the wrong choice." "There is no excuse," he said.
"In retrospect, from where I'm sitting now, there were clearly kids in the room, and clearly they are in danger."
Survivors of the shooting, including children, spent some time calling 911 from the classroom after 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
However, police officers remained in the hallway outside the room, awaiting a specially trained tactical team and additional equipment, according to Colonel McCraw.
"From where I'm sitting now, there were clearly kids in the room." He claimed that the officers' lack of immediate action was due to the decision that Ramos was a "barricaded subject."
Colonel McCraw added that the incident had "transitioned from an active shooter to a barricaded subject," despite pleas from students inside their classrooms.
McCraw did not identify the person calling 911 multiple times beginning at 12:03 p.m.
According to the colonel, they told police in hushed tones that there were multiple dead and "eight to nine" students still alive.
"From where I'm sitting now, there were clearly children in the room." He claimed that the officers' failure to act quickly was due to the decision that Ramos was a "barricaded subject."
Despite pleas from students inside their classrooms, Colonel McCraw said the incident had "transitioned from an active shooter to a barricaded subject."
Someone unknown to McCraw dialed 911 several times beginning at 12:03 p.m.
According to the colonel, they told police in hushed tones that there were multiple bodies and that "eight to nine" students remained alive.
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