UVALDE, Texas — A Department of Justice report on the May 2022 school shooting in Uvalde released Thursday called the law enforcement response a "failure" and pointed to changes that could have shortened the time it took to confront and kill the gunman.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde in the Texas Legislature, has fought alongside the families of the victims to seek accountability for what happened that day and to try to enact gun control legislation.
"I want to thank the DOJ for putting down what we've already known in black and white," he said at a Thursday morning news conference in Uvalde. "That doesn't mean we're done here or that we should be."
He said the report provides another factual basis for further understanding what happened that day, but it was cold comfort for families.
"For the families... there is no consolation in this, and there is no justice," he said. "This state is broken on so many things. (This report) sheds some light for me on all of it."
Gutierrez introduced 21 Senate bills seeking changes in gun laws, including universal background checks and red flag warnings. None of the bills passed during the 2023 legislative session.
"Every law enforcement agency that arrived at this scene... had a lack of urgency. That word is replete in this report. There was a lack of leadership," he said. "There was a complete and utter lack or urgency when it came to taking care of these children and understanding that this was an active shooter situation."
Gutierrez is currently running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to face U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November. Support for gun control remains at the top of his campaign platform.
"This is about finding justice for families, and heretofore they haven't gotten any."
The Justice Department's investigation released Thursday involved interviews with more than 200 individuals and the analysis of nearly 13,000 pieces of evidence as of spring 2023.
The Justice Department has said its investigation would “provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and response that day” and identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for active shooter events.