May 29, 2022 Texas shooting news

Our live coverage surrounding the events of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, has ended.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit the memorial outside of Robb Elementary School on May 29.

Two family members of victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School told CNN that President Joe Biden was comforting during his meetings with them in Uvalde, Texas on Sunday.

Jose Cazares, the uncle of Jacklyn Cazares, and Vincent Salazar, the father of Layla Salazar – both spoke about the President’s compassion and empathy toward the families of the victims. 

Cazares said the President reminded him of a father figure while Salazar said Biden was comforting like a grandfather.

When asked if the President said anything that will stick with him, Cazares pulled out a medal with the presidential seal which he said Biden gave to him. Cazares said he had first given the President the medal of St. Benedict. 

Salazar also said the President and first lady were just focused on his daughter, Layla. 

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden met with families affected by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School at the end of their trip to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday.

The Bidens spent the afternoon with the families of victims and survivors of the shooting at Uvalde County Arena, according to a White House pool report, before meeting with paramedics, mental health services providers, firefighters, and law enforcement officials at Garner Field.

The President and the first lady have departed Uvalde en route to San Antonio where they are expected to return to their home in Delaware.

Earlier in the day, the Bidens spoke with the school’s principal and local officials before walking to a row of memorial wreaths, each marking one of the slain children or teachers. They touched cardboard cutouts of each one, their photos on the front circled by white flower garlands, in quiet observation.

The Bidens then attended Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller invited children from the devastated community to sit at the front.

Carlos Hernandez loves to cook, especially when he gets to do it for the people he loves. So when a school shooting took place just a mile away from his restaurant, Carlito’s Way, he chose cooking as a way to unify his community.

At first, Hernandez had no idea how he would be able to cook again: “There’s no possible way I can open my kitchen with a broken heart and have fun doing it,” he wrote on Facebook hours after the shooter killed 19 children and two teachers.

But on Thursday, his 33rd birthday, Hernandez decided to do something. He put on his apron, set out the ingredients and got to it. Hernandez spent the morning cooking up his fan favorites from his restaurant: platters of crispy wings in three different flavors, sizzling creamy mac and cheese, and fried fish tacos with all the classic toppings.

Families who arrived were met with words of kindness, hugs and plates of food undoubtedly made with love. Unlike so much of the town, where people are joined together in tears and expressions of grief, there are only smiles here. Parents offer bites of food to the little ones who are too impatient to wait to get home before diving in. The aroma of food envelops this community in a blanket of hope – and judging by the sound of laughter, the joy of eating together has brought them a desperately needed moment of happiness. 

Within two hours, Hernandez had given away more than 60 family-sized platters to feed mourning families and neighbors who are still learning how to grapple with the tragedy that hit their tight-knit community.

But in between cooking for impacted families and taking time to grieve for his community, Hernandez says he worries about the future of Uvalde. 

When will the children — and parents — in the community be able to heal from a massacre no one could ever imagined, he asks? He worries the answer is never. 

Despite these fears, his focus now is doing everything in his power to offer a helping hand — or in this case, a platter of delicious food — to bring some joy to his community.

“Showing the families we care is what we do. I want them to remember how we joined in at the time of need,” Hernandez said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott arrives at a makeshift memorial outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 29.

The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter on Saturday to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urging him to call an emergency special legislative session to address gun violence in the state.

The caucus said they “demand that this special session include passage of legislation that would:

The letter went on to say, “We need evidence-based, common sense gun safety laws. Without a doubt, if at least some of the measures noted above had been passed since 2018, then many lives could have been saved.”

The caucus said they are not looking to take away the Second Amendment, but action is required in order to prevent another tragedy. 

Saying “the status quo is unacceptable,” Abbott said Friday that the state will consider new legislation in response to the deadly shooting in Uvalde. “Do we expect laws to come out of this devastating crime? The answer is absolutely yes, and there will be laws in multiple different subject areas.”

CNN has reached out to Abbott’s office seeking a statement on the letter.

When tragedy strikes, not everyone thinks about going to the library for comfort. But in Uvalde, El Progreso Memorial Library has become a place of healing.

Days after the shooting, in between aisles upon aisles of biographies, memoirs and novels that take readers on a journey away from reality, a child wearing a maroon shirt is seen holding hands with her mom as they scan books about grief. 

Before the shooting, the library was simply a place to read.

Today, it is “a quiet place of refuge,” the library wrote on Facebook, where families can turn to books on mourning, hope and guidance to find their way around this tragedy.

On Wednesday, just a day after the shooting, children’s librarian Martha Carreon sat in front of rows of little faces, reading, singing and giggling with the children, taking them away to a safe place much unlike the school where many of them became witness to horror.

Although a few days have passed since, Morgan says everyone is still processing what took place.

“We are still in shock,” she said. “First, time is needed to allow all of us to recover from the shock, face the reality of the aftermath, and find positive ways to move forward.”

Now the library sits still, a place of utter calm in the center of a town still buzzing with the sounds of grief. While nearly every block in Uvalde is scattered with mourners crowding around memorials and strangers sharing kindness in all its forms, the library welcomes those who just need a moment to breathe.

A young woman sits on the floor, her back against a shelf where she is camouflaged within a sea of books. She journals, her fingers moving gracefully but fervently as she fills up every line. No sound comes from her except the gentle murmur of her pen meeting the page – it is a private ritual between her and her thoughts alone.

This haven for peace and quiet is also the place to find joy and laughter, which should be more common in the upcoming summer weeks. One of the positive ways the library will help the community heal is by using donations to establish “Los Angelitos de Robb Memorial Book Fund,” which will be used to buy resources in print and non-print, puzzles, games, toys and equipment for the children, Morgan said.

The library will also bring guests to join them during story time, including the Miniwonders Equine Therapy of Georgetown, a nonprofit organization that uses trained therapy miniature horses to help victims of trauma. The group will hand out stuffed animals and toys and bring their miniature horses and bunny rabbits for the children to play with.

Along with psychologists who will be available every weekday for children and adults to talk to, there will also be massage therapy practitioners, volunteers for arts and craft activities, pianists to play soothing music, and even magicians to hold professional magic shows.

“One takeaway is that this is a strong community where we have true care and concern for one another,” Morgan said. “Many, if not most here, hold fast to their faith believing in God, that good is stronger than evil and light is stronger than dark.”

University Hospital San Antonio posted an update on Twitter on Sunday afternoon on the three patients they’re still treating from the shooting at Robb Elementary school.

According to their tweet, University Hospital is still treating a 66-year-old woman in fair condition, a 10-year-old girl in serious condition and a 9-year-old girl in good condition.

In the initial days following the shooting, the hospital listed the 66-year-old as in serious condition, according to CNN’s reporting.

The 66-year-old woman being treated is the shooter’s grandmother, officials confirmed Wednesday.

President Joe Biden’s motorcade arrived at 1:39 p.m., local time, at Uvalde County Arena, where the Bidens are meeting with survivors and family members of the shooting, according to a pool report.

The meeting is closed to the press. There are more than 3 hours of time scheduled for the meeting.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday, May 29.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended a bilingual Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with approximately 600 people about a mile away from the site of last week’s deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.

The first lady greeted a few parishioners seated along the aisle of the church, according to the pool reporter inside the church.

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, the celebrant, opened the Mass by observing, “Our hearts are broken.” 

“In the midst of collapse and devastation, we have come once more to this our house. To pray. And be together,” one of the other service leaders said before the service.

Another service leader began Mass by speaking of the hardships of recent times — a pandemic, poverty — and now this.

“Mr. President has a very good understanding of what is happening now, here. And we are very gracious of his spirit,” he added.

The choir sang “On Eagle’s Wings” during the service. Biden has said the hymn was a favorite of his late son Beau Biden, who died seven years ago Monday at the age of 46 after battling brain cancer.

As the Bidens left Mass at 1:28 p.m., local time, he walked over to a group of demonstrators calling for him to “do something.”

“We will,” he told them, according to pool reporters.

They then departed for a meeting with the families of the victims and survivors of Tuesday’s shooting.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday, May 29.

CNN’s Donald Judd contributed to this report.

A memorial sits outside Robb Elementary School on Saturday, May 28, in Uvalde, Texas.

The Justice Department announced Sunday it will conduct a review of the law enforcement response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

“At the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, the U.S. Department of Justice will conduct a Critical Incident Review of the law enforcement response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24,” DOJ spokesman Anthony Coley said in a statement.

The review is a significant development as Texas officials and law enforcement have been under intense scrutiny for the way officers responded to the shooting. 

The massacre, America’s deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, has been followed by conflicting official accounts of how it unfolded. The delayed police confrontation with the mass shooter has compounded parents’ anger, with some saying a quicker response could have saved children’s lives.

“The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events. The review will be conducted with the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing,” Conley said. “As with prior Justice Department after-action reviews of mass shootings and other critical incidents, this assessment will be fair, transparent, and independent. The Justice Department will publish a report with its findings at the conclusion of its review.”

President Joe Biden embraces Mandy Gutierrez, the principal of Robb Elementary School, as he and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects on May 29 in Uvalde, Texas.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden laid a bouquet of flowers at the memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

The Bidens were greeted by applause from onlookers, and spoke with Dr. Hal Harrell, the superintendent of the Uvalde County Independent School District and Mandy Gutierrez, the principal of Robb Elementary School.

CNN’s Arlette Saenz, on the ground in Uvalde, reported that some onlookers began shouting at Governor Greg Abbott as he approached the memorial. “Please Governor Abbott help Uvalde county,” Ben Gonzales, a 35-year-old Uvalde resident, shouted. “We need change. Our children don’t deserve this.”

As Biden departed the memorial, he shouted the same plea to the President, “President Biden, we need help! We need help, President Biden!”

The President and the first lady took several minutes looking at the photos of the 19 students and two adults who lost their lives in the shooting.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects at a makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 29.

President Biden has arrived in Uvalde, Texas, with the difficult task of offering solace and comfort to a community reeling from the horrific shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers last week.

“He hopes to convey empathy and understanding of what an impossibly horrible moment this is for them,” one adviser traveling with the President today says. “He hopes to offer some small piece of comfort, if that is possible.”

The president and first lady Jill Biden’s first stop will be at the memorial at Robb Elementary School. Throughout the morning, community members - adults, young children - have come to lay flowers and stuffed animals at the site. A family moments ago was seen kneeling in prayer in front of the crosses representing the 21 lives lost here Tuesday. Dozens of onlookers have gathered near the barricades ahead of the president’s anticipated arrival.

Following his stop at the elementary school, the President will attend Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church - his traditional Sunday practice, but one that takes on additional meaning as he celebrates Mass with the grief stricken community. He’ll then meet privately with the victims’ families and later first responders. The White House has allotted several hours for the President and First Lady to spend with the families

In addition to the horrific events that unfolded here in Uvalde, this weekend is one of personal significance for the Biden family as well. Monday marks seven years since the President’s son, Beau Biden, passed away from cancer - a loss the President has often pointed to as he’s sought to connect with grieving families.

Rep. Val Demings speaks in Washington, DC on January 6.

Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., and a candidate for Senate, told CBS’s Margaret Brennan this morning the Senate must act on background checks and red flag laws. “I believe that those are two pieces of legislation that have overwhelming public support. We can get it done if the Senate has the political will to do it,” she said.

She acknowledged hardening school security is important, but emphasized mass shootings happen outside of school as well. “I think we also should look at school safety every day. I think there should always be an assessment as technology has changed. We need to use the best, the most state-of-the-art technology,” she said.

Speaking from her own experience as a former police chief, Demings noted the officers on the ground broke active shooter protocol in Uvalde. “We all know, post-Columbine, there is no time to waste, that the officers on that scene are expected to go into those active shooter situations,” said Demings.

She then called for the FBI to engage in a formal investigation of how law enforcement handled the scene. “We must, Margaret, demand an investigation and I believe the FBI, I mean, that would be my vote for a federal investigation. But I do believe since there were so many agencies involved on the ground, it’s important that we know what role every agency played,” said Demings.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden step off Air Force One upon arrival at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, on May 29.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden have landed at Kelly Field Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

From there, they will board Marine One to Uvalde, Texas.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw speaks during a news conference on December 2, 2021, in Washington, DC.

In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on State of the Union, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, rejected many of the proposals for gun reform, including background checks, red flag laws, and changes to age restrictions, before advocating for greater security in schools.

While Crenshaw did acknowledge updates to the background check law could be helpful, he said he still does not support universal background checks.

“This may be something we could agree on is improving our background check system because, look, again, he went through a background check. So the problem isn’t that a red flag law could have solved this, it doesn’t seem clear that would have happened,” said Crenshaw. “The problem is that the background check didn’t capture the full story of this person.”

Crenshaw argued universal background checks would be unrealistic.

“People have to understand what universal background checks, that means that I can no longer sell a gun to my friend,” he said, adding “The people who are least likely to adhere to universal background check are the criminals who intend harm, so I again, it’s an outcome problem.”

Crenshaw said red-flag laws should be up to the states, but he would not support it in Texas. “What you’re essentially trying to do with the red flag law is enforce the law before the law has been broken. And it’s a really difficult thing to do, it’s difficult to assess whether somebody is a threat,” he noted. “Now if they are such a threat that they’re threatening somebody with a weapon already, well, then they’ve already broken the law. So why do you need this other law?”

He argued changing the age limit on buying a gun to 21 would be a slippery slope. “You know, what happens then when we see a 22-year-old commit an atrocity? Are we going to raise it again? And are we going to raise it again? And at a certain point we have to ask ourselves where a limiting principle is.”

The one proposal he seemed open to had nothing to do with restricting access to guns. “I think what needs to change is the things that would have the most immediate and succinct effect, or tangible effect on these things. And that’s actual security at a school,” he said.

Pressed by Bash on whether security and gun reform are mutually exclusive to him, Crenshaw said greater gun control “probably wouldn’t have the outcome that you’re looking for,” and would “infringe on the rights of millions,” whereas additional security would be “fairly easy to afford.”

However, he acknowledged earlier in the interview law enforcement on the scene did not follow protocol and aid students. “Now, I know better than most not to necessarily judge the person who’s walking through the breach, and is in that moment, in the arena. But it does seem clear that protocols were not followed.”

“You have to put away your sense of self-preservation and go through that door. The training clearly states you might get shot, but the guy behind you might be able to get in and save innocent people. You have to put them before you. It doesn’t appear that happened here.”

Rep. Adam Kinzinger speaks during a Select Committee investigation in Washington, DC, on July 27. 

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday he would be open to a ban on AR-15 guns, depending on “what it looks like,” in a major shift for a Republican lawmaker who was previously against a ban, in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting.

“Look, I have opposed a ban. You know, fairly recently. I think I’m open to a ban now. It’s gonna depend on what it looks like because there’s a lot of nuances on what constitutes you know certain things, but I’m getting to the point where I have to wonder maybe it’s maybe somebody to own one,” Kinzinger told CNN’s Dana Bash on State of the Union.

He added maybe what is just required is an “extra license,” or “extra training,” in the moment, deliberating on whether it would be a ban or additional certifications, but either way Kinzinger said it was up to those who support the Second Amendment to also be adding solutions to the discussion.

Kinzinger, the Illinois Republican who announced last year he would not be running again, now supports an assortment of gun control measures like universal backgrounds, red flag laws, and raising the age for those who want to buy high-capacity magazines. He said his thinking on the topic, after being against such measures, evolved after the horrific 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

And the GOP representative slammed others in his party who he says believe similar things, but do not speak up out of fear of retribution.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” he said about some gun control measures. “The problem is everybody is scared to inaction. They’re frightened of the loudest voices and 90% of Americans are begging that we do something.”

He derided the “cultist,” or “tribal,” groupthink stopping those from coming out to do what’s right, whether it is about Donald Trump, the insurrection or guns.

Kinzinger shot down ideas floated by Texas leaders like Greg Abbott or Ted Cruz to focus more attention on mental health or limit the number of doors in a school building to prevent mass shootings, saying thought it is a “heart issue,” in which people have to make the conscious decision to commit such an act. Limiting the number of exits, he said, would not work but would turn schools into “military camps,” which is not the way forward.

“All these people, these politicians that are scared of death to talk about the gun issue. They know that this is an issue, but they’re scared to talk about it,” he said, so they choose to talk about mental health or arming others to protect children instead that ultimately fail to do exactly that. “We’ve got to take handle of this man, this is insane.”

Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez speaks with reporters on May 27, in Uvalde, Texas.

During an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said the mistakes made by law enforcement during the shooting at Robb Elementary may have “led to the passing away of these children.”

CNN previously reported while the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was inside adjoining classrooms, a group of 19 law enforcement officers stood outside the classroom in the school for roughly 50 minutes as they waited for room keys and tactical equipment.

Democratic senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Ben Cardin, D-Md., appeared hopeful Congress may be able to work in a bipartisan manner to reduce gun violence in the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas this week.

“I really do think that there is real urgency that we can show that we can act. I am confident if we get a bill on the floor on the fun issues and can pass it, it will be the right signal to the American people,” Cardin said on Fox News Sunday.

Similarly, Booker echoed the tentative optimism in an interview on NBC Meet the Press, “I’m under no illusion that we’re going to do the things that need to be done, that the majority of Americans overwhelming support Republican and Democrat that can support significant safety.”

The Senator from Maryland questioned what it would say about Congress if the Senate is unable to even bring a gun violence bill to the floor.

Both Senators made it clear if a bipartisan agreement is made it would not go as far in preventing gun violence as Democrats would want it to.

“It probably won’t go as far as I would like to see it go, but it will at least show that Congress can act,” Cardin told Fox’s Sandra Smith.

Booker said a greater social mobilization is needed for more significant change, but stated “whatever we can get done if it saves a life it’s worth doing.”

Earlier this week White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters President Joe Biden’s administration will look into executive actions to limit gun violence, but “right now we need the help of Congress. We need them to step in.”

Cardin added the President has been engaging in the Senate negotiations and “will continue to do that.”

Sen. Chris Murphy addresses a rally with fellow senators and gun control advocacy groups outside the US Capitol on May 26, in Washington, DC.

Sen. Chris Murphy expressed a more optimistic tone over the latest Congressional negotiations on gun reforms in the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in an interview on ABC’s This Week.

Though Murphy said it is “inconceivable to me that we have not passed significant federal legislation trying to address the tragedy of gun violence in this nation,” he did say that his hope is that “this time is different,” because of more Republican participation.

Murphy said “serious” negotiations have continued throughout the weekend and meetings will continue through early this week “to try and find some common ground.” Murphy had meetings with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, along with other Republicans and Democrats Saturday.

Murphy mentioned the discussions are revolving around red flag laws, strengthening and expanding the background check system, “if not universal background checks,” safe storage, mental health resources, and more security funding for schools. He said the package could in the end “have a significant downward pressure on gun violence in this country and break the logjam,” and show “progress is possible and that the sky doesn’t fall for Republicans if they support some of these commonsense measures.”

Murphy noted the timetable for action is short. “We’ve got a short time frame. Jonathan, we’ve got to get this ready for Congress when Congress reconvenes in about a week, but I think we can do it.”

Murphy did not know whether there are enough votes in the Senate to raise the age to purchase assault rifles, but said the issue of young individuals between the ages of 18-21 being able to buy assault weapons is being discussed, because of the “profile of the current mass shooter.” He called it an “encouraging conversation.”

Murphy praised Florida’s law signed by then Republican Gov. Rick Scott, in the wake of the 2018 Parkland mass shooting, and said he had “a long conversation” with Sen. Scott where Scott told Murphy the story of how the legislation came to pass.

At the end of the interview, Murphy mentioned other solutions that could help stem the tide of violence in urban areas, such as greater investment in cities where there would be more services for kids to discourage them from participating in “very at risk and dangerous behaviors.”

He also mentioned President Biden’s domestic agenda, which includes $5 billion for urban anti-gun violence initiatives and violence interruption programs.

Sen. Dick Durbin speaks to the media on April 4, in Washington, DC.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday he sensed a “different feeling,” among his colleagues in Congress this week when it comes to the possibility of passing gun control measures in the wake of the Uvalde shooting on CNN’s State of the Union.

But he also measured any optimism with the reality that what would be passed – if anything – would be limited in scope due to Democrats compromising with their Republican colleagues.

Asked by Bash if anything will actually get done this time around, Durbin was cautious but still optimistic.

“Dana, I can’t say for certain, but I can tell you I sense a different feeling among my colleagues after Uvalde,” he said. “Of course 10 years ago, it was Sandy Hook and parkland and so many other instances, but it just is so compelling to see the photos of these young boys and girls and to picture your own children, your grandchildren, captives of this madman as he’s killing them off one by one in that school and realize it is time for us to do something. America is sick and tired of political excuses.”

Durbin identified what he called “small and lifesaving steps,” he thought Congress could find a compromise on like red flag laws, which allow courts to temporarily seize firearms from anyone believed to be a danger to themselves or others and straw purchasing laws, that are used when someone buys a gun for another person who is legally ineligible to buy one.

The chairman threw a bit of cold water on stronger gun control provisions like an assault weapons ban Vice President Harris called for on Saturday, saying, “we’ve got to be realistic about what we can achieve,” when compromising with Republicans.

In general, Durbin said he is in favor of the ban.

“Well, when we have one of there was a reduction in crime, mass shootings with these weapons. That expired years ago and unfortunately, in the meantime, there has been a dramatic increase in purchases of these weapons,” Durbin said.

On ongoing gun negotiations between Sens. Chris Murphy and John Cornyn, which minority leader Mitch McConnell has blessed, Durbin said he has given his own blessing to Murphy to move forward with the discussions even if they happen outside the committee jurisdiction, providing a look inside how urgently senators want something to be done.

“I said to Chris, and I offered to Senator Cornyn, if you can make progress between you, if you can move us forward, don’t worry about the committee jurisdiction and do the right thing and do as much as you can do and let’s join together if we can on a bipartisan basis to show the American people that what happened in Uvalde was not in vain. That sadness and that tragedy in that small town, it’s been felt across America,” Durbin said.

“We’ve got to respond to it with something positive that shows America we care.”