A grand jury has been convened to investigate the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 21 people in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, according to multiple reports.
Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell said San Antonio Express-News that a grand jury has been convened to review the evidence and weigh possible charges related to the deaths of 19 children and two teachers at the school.
Of about 300 people summoned to appear in the 38th District Court, only 67 showed up, according to Uvalde Leader-Novosti. Of those who appeared, 12 were selected to serve on the jury, which is expected to last at least six months, the paper said. According to the Texas Tribune, jurors will meet about twice a month to hear testimony from witnesses.
View of the area near Robb Primary School.
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Although the grand jury’s focus cannot be disclosed under state criminal procedure law, Mitchell said Uvalde Leader-Novosti that she is “committed to protecting the integrity of the Texas Rangers investigation and presenting the investigation to the Uvalde County grand jury.”
“My office continues to methodically and systematically dissect the Texas Rangers investigation, which I have owned for less than a year. I want to ensure that our efforts in this process are careful, deliberate and fair. I am constantly aware of my responsibility to help the victims, their families, those under the cloud of allegations and our community,” her statement added. PEOPLE has reached out to the district attorney’s office for comment.
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The grand jury reports come a day after the United States Department of Justice released a critical incident review analyzing law enforcement’s response to the tragedy over the past 20 months.
“The victims and survivors of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School deserved better,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.
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: Police stand vigil near a memorial dedicated to the 19 children and two adults killed on May 24, 2022 during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2023 in Uvalde, Texas.
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“As a result of failed leadership, training and policy, 33 students and three of their teachers — many of whom were shot — were trapped in a room with an active shooter for over an hour while law enforcement officers remained outside. We hope to honor victims and survivors working together to prevent something like this from happening again, here or anywhere,” his statement continued.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education