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By Reese Oxner, The Texas Tribune
May 27, 2022
Details of how a gunman was able to enter Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and kill 19 students and two teachers over the course of an hour have come out in parcels over the last few days.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Department of Public Safety officials have walked back some of their initial statements about the shooting and the authorities’ response to the call after contradictory information came to light. Authorities first stated that officers engaged with the gunman before he entered the school; they later corrected themselves and said he went inside unopposed.
Details of how long it took for officers to reenter the school after their first confrontation with the shooter — about 1 hour and 15 minutes — have also sparked widespread outrage and criticism.
Here is a timeline of the events according to the most recent information available.
September 2021
Shooter asks sister for help to buy gun
Before turning 18, the shooter asks his sister to help him buy a gun. She refuses.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
March 1-3, 2022
Gunman sends message on Instagram about guns
On March 1, the shooter discusses wanting to purchase a gun in a group chat on Instagram. In another Instagram chat on March 3, someone tells the shooter, “Word on the street you’re buying a gun.” The shooter replies, “Just bought something RN [right now].”
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
March 14, 2022
Gunman makes Instagram post
The gunman makes an Instagram post with the caption “10 more days.” A user comments, “Are you going to shoot up the school or something?” The shooter replies, “No and stop asking dumb questions and you’ll see.” Investigators didn’t specify what the post consisted of.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
May 16-20, 2022
Shooter purchases guns, ammunition
The shooter turns 18, the legal age for purchasing a rifle in Texas, on May 16. The shooter then legally purchases two AR platform rifles from a local federal firearm licensee on two days, May 17 and May 20. He also buys 375 rounds of 5.56-caliber ammunition.
Source: A briefing state Sen. John Whitmire received from state authorities
May 24, 2022: Day of shooting
Shooter sends Facebook messages
The shooter sends private Facebook messages to a girl in Germany he met online and tells her about his plans to shoot his grandmother. The gunman shoots his grandma in the face, who then calls the police.
The shooter steals his grandmother’s vehicle and drives from his home to Robb Elementary School, which is about a 2-mile drive away.
Source: Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference on May 25, 2022
Shooter arrives at school
The shooter crashes the vehicle in a ditch near the school. He fires his gun at two male witnesses who began approaching the crash from a nearby funeral home. The witnesses flee and call 911.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
A teacher calls 911
A teacher at the elementary school makes a 911 call reporting the crash and seeing the shooter, noting he has a gun.
The shooter walks toward the school, climbs the fence into the parking lot and shoots at the school several times.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Shooter walks through the school parking lot
The shooter reaches the last row of vehicles in the school parking lot, firing his rifle throughout. Police arrive at the funeral home. A school district police officer speeds in the direction of a person they think is the man with the gun reported by the teacher but drives past the gunman and heads to the back of the school, mistaking a teacher for the shooter.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Shooter enters the school
The shooter enters the school through a back door, which a teacher had propped open. He shoots at least 100 rounds into classrooms 111 and 112, which are connected.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Uvalde police enter the school
Three Uvalde police officers rush to the same door that the gunman used to enter, which was closed. They enter and receive grazing wounds from the gunman. They retreat.
Later, four more officers, including a deputy with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, enter the school.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Gunman fires 16 more rounds
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Robb Elementary and Uvalde police post on Facebook
Robb Elementary announces on Facebook it is under a lockdown status “due to gunshots in the area.”
“The students and staff are safe in the building. The building is secure in a Lockdown Status,” school officials say in the announcement.
At the same time, Uvalde Police Department posts on Facebook, “Large Police presence at Robb Elementary. We ask the public to avoid the area.”
Source: Robb Elementary School Facebook pageand Uvalde Police Department Facebook page
Police officers are inside
Police with the city of Uvalde and the local school district are inside the school. They hear gunfire, are shot at, move back and get cover.
“Initial officers are there and receive gunfire, therefore do not make entry. Officers call everyone in the area for additional resources: tactical teams, equipment, specialty equipment, body armor, precision rifleman [and] negotiators. They’re evacuating students and teachers during this time,” Victor Escalon, a DPS official, said during a press conference May 26.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 26, 2022
More police arrive
More law enforcement officials arrive at the scene.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Onlooker starts filming
Twenty-one minutes after the shooter enters the school, an onlooker, Angel Ledezma, streams a live video showing parents begging police to enter the school.
Source: Facebook
Police continue to arrive, and a student calls 911 from inside
A student calls 911 from room 112 for a minute and 23 seconds and identifies herself in a whisper. Meanwhile, as many as 19 officers are positioned in the school’s hallway.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Student calls back
The student calls 911 again and says multiple people are dead.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Student calls 911 again
The student calls 911 a third time. Authorities have not expanded on her comments during this call.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Border Patrol Tactical Unit arrives
Border Patrol Tactical Unit members carrying shields arrive.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Student calls 911 once again
The student calls 911 again, saying eight or nine students are alive.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
School announces active shooter on campus
Robb Elementary officials announce on Facebook that there is an active shooter on campus.
Source: Robb Elementary School Facebook page
Onlookers and parents beg for action
At some point during the standoff, onlookers beg police to charge the school, according to The Associated Press. Parents try to break windowsand are not allowed to immediately be reunited with their children.
Source: News reports
Another student calls 911
A student in room 111 calls 911 and hangs up when another student tells her to.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Gunman fires again
The gunman fires again. Authorities say he was believed to be at the classroom’s door. On a 911 call from a student, three gunshots can be heard.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Student in room 111 calls back
The same student calls back for 21 seconds and is told to stay on the line quietly.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Gunman shoots the door
The student tells 911 that the gunman shot the door.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
“I can hear the police next door.”
— Student who called 911
“Please send the police now.”
— Student who called 911
Border Patrol kills gunman
Shots are heard on the student’s call. A Border Patrol Tactical Unit officer breaches the room using a janitor’s keys and kills the gunman.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Children are moved out of the room
From the student’s 911 call, it sounds like officers are moving children out of the room. At that time, the student makes it outside, and the call cuts out.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety at a press conference on May 27, 2022
Police announce shooter is in custody
Uvalde police announce on Facebook that the shooter is in custody. Authorities recanted that information later.
Source: Facebook
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/27/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-timeline/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
