Questions are asked about how long it took before police stormed a Texas elementary school classroom to end a gunman attack inside.
Texas Department of Homeland Security director Steve McCraw said it had been 40 minutes to an hour since Salvador Ramos first opened fire on the school’s security officer until a tactical team he shot him dead.
During this time, 21 people – 19 students and two teachers – were killed.
And the community now demands to know all the details of what exactly happened during that time.
Her questions arise when it is revealed that the husband of one of the teachers who died has also died, less than 48 hours after the tragedy.
Joe Garcia had been married to high school sweetheart Irma Garcia for 24 years before being killed Tuesday at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.
Image: Professor Irma Garcia was among the victims of the mass shooting
“I don’t even know how to feel. I don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it” Joe Garcia is dead, Irma’s nephew John Martinez told Sky’s US partner, NBC News .
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He is believed to have suffered a heart attack after going to his wife’s memorial to lay flowers. A relative said on a social media post that he believed Joe had “died with a broken heart” after losing “the love of his life of more than 30 years, it was too much to bear.”
The couple had four children.
Read more: The Duchess of Sussex lays flowers at the site of the massacre. Why are U.S. gun sales rising after mass shootings? My nine-year-old son’s lone shooter exercise lessons and why guns became commonplace
A Texas law enforcement official said the 18-year-old gunman entered unobstructed through a seemingly unlocked door.
After entering the school, Ramos barricaded himself in a classroom and began killing.
Image: The 19 students and two teachers who lost their lives
Another official said Border Patrol officers had trouble breaking down the classroom door and had to have a staff member open the room with a key.
Meanwhile, one of the victim’s parents was reportedly so frustrated by what appeared to be the time he threatened to “rush in.”
Javier Cazares, whose daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, died in the attack, said she ran to school when she learned of the shooting and arrived while police were still concentrated outside.
Disgusted that the police would not move, he raised the idea of entering the school with several other spectators.
“The police were not ready”
“We are in a hurry because the police are not doing anything as they are supposed to do,” he said. “More could have been done.”
“They were not ready,” he added.
A Texas Department of Homeland Security spokesman later said authorities could not give a solid estimate of how long the gunman had been at the school.
“The bottom line is that there was law enforcement,” McCraw said. “They got involved immediately. They contained (Ramos) in the classroom.”
Uvalde police chief Daniel Rodriguez said officers had responded “within minutes” and said it was “important for our community to know.”
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1:34 Why only in America? Sky News asks
“Answers will not arrive fast enough”
He said there was an ongoing investigation into all aspects of the Texas Rangers-led shooting and added: “I understand that questions are emerging about the details of what happened.
“I know the answers won’t come fast enough during this difficult time, but rest assured that with the completion of the full investigation, I will be able to answer all the questions we can.”
In the wake of another mass shooting, gun safety advocates are now pushing President Joe Biden to take tougher measures to curb the violence.
On Thursday, they spoke with representatives of the White House and urged the president to appoint a tsar of armed violence.
Mr Biden was also called upon to make an emergency declaration on armed violence (a situation in which a government has the power to implement policies that would not normally be allowed to do so), to issue an executive order (a signed, written executive order). and published Presidential directive) on background checks for the purchase of firearms, and advocate for lifting the obstruction of the Senate if necessary (the rule requiring at least 60 votes in the Senate of 100 seats to approve a majority of legislation).
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0:57 Meghan at the shooting memorial school
14 acres of cannon
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has said it will continue its annual convention in Houston, Texas, during this upcoming holiday weekend.
It promises to show “more than 14 acres of the latest weapons and equipment.”
He sent a message of condolence to the victims of Uvalde on his convention website.
It was said: “Our deepest condolences are to the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil crime.
“On behalf of our members, we salute the courage of school officials, senior officials and others who offered their support and services.
“While it is being investigated and facts are still emerging, we acknowledge that it was the act of a lone and upset criminal.
“As we meet in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, acknowledge our patriotic members, and commit to redouble our commitment to ensuring the safety of our schools.”