This nation is NOT at all like the one I grew up in 80 years ago when I was in 4th grade. These Mothers wanted to get to their children to stop the bleeding so maybe to save them. But the police there would NOT let them. We need to ALL really Pray for this Nation. I would have NEVER believed that in the state of Texas, something like this would happen where they stopped parents and let the shooter shot. We need God in the schools but we also need GOD IN THE NATION MORE THAN EVER.
So awful. All of these shootings are tragic. I live a couple towns southeast of Oxford, MIchigan. The Oxford shooting was horrible, and possibly preventable, but the police response was a textbook example of how to respond to a school shooting, saving many lives. The suspect was in custody within minutes. The students, faculty and staff did what they practiced in emergency drills. Classroom doors had special locks. Prayers for Uvalde.
As of 4:25 PM no media outlet (Fox, CNN, NYT) has mentioned the horrible details you outlined: “cops waited 35 minutes to go in, cops checked on their own kids first, shooter killed a child under a table after cop yelled “who needs help”, etc. Who are your sources, Erik?
Thanks for sharing your sources. However, the person at the press Conference today said there was not an SRO at the school. You said there was and he did nothing. You also said cops didn’t go in for 35+ minutes. Again, looking at your sources, SOME cops stayed outside but the first cops got inside in four minutes. Yes, it’s inexcusable how the cops outside treated the parents that way and yes, it’s inexcusable that the first cops in didn’t break in and it took an hour for the guy to get killed. But I still think you misstated or were very incomplete/misleading with some of your comments.
And yes, until after I went off air today, the report was that there was a school safety officer present, but he didn’t block the guy. The news changed after I got off air and I’ll talk about it more tomorrow.
Erik, you’re the best, but I think it’s too early to make concrete statements as you did today. There seem to be a lot of bits and pieces of this story coming out so we need more time before we (hopefully) learn the entire scope of what actually took place.
The latest report now is that some of the police did go in when they got there, but they did nothing until a tactical unit got there. It was approximately 35 minutes. The Texas police say the police who entered were afraid of getting shot.
I have watched FOX news and they say a lot of time and may be almost an hour before they went in. The SRO did talk to the shooter but let him by and to the door which was unlocked and the shooter evidently locked the door because the Police found it locked.
How can this be?! We have to hear it from those parents, hear it everyday. They must say it to the local officials, to the press, to congress, and to the world. Lord have mercy. How can this be?
Infuriates me how folks a thousand miles away, in their cozy surroundings, spread here-say! Ask 100 people what happened, and you’ll get 100 different answers. Just saw where the sister of an ON THE SCENE officers reported law enforcement was inside the building from the get go. Just being “inside” doesn’t insure success, i.e., find the right source of the activity, realize you can’t jeopardize more lives, coordinate with other law enforcement ON THE SCENE, determine how to get the killer without injuring/killing more innocents, and a myriad of other considerations! So disappointed in you, Erick. These people risked their own lives, and this is the thanks they get.
Accounts are not facts, only what a person perceives in a situation like this. Just saw a report, on FOX, killer went in at 11:40 and law enforcement went in at 11:44, after that who knows what was happening except the ones who were inside the building. Parents and other by standers had no way of knowing what was occurring inside. The ones shouting for them to “go in” could only see what was happening from one vantage point and had no way of knowing what was happening out of their line of sight. My other point, one day is hardly long enough for anyone to put the pieces together, in a complex tragedy like this, and come to a concrete opinion they have ALL the facts, from all sources, to make a certain determination, enough to publish it for an audience. Just think about it and admit no one knows yet, if ever, what happened in the aftermath. I’m disappointed he jumped to conclusions so quickly.
This would have been unacceptable before all the school shootings began but for it to occur now is reprehensible. And heartbreaking and unimaginable. Where has our compassion and our morality gone people?
Absolutely horrendous and even more so than the Parkland officer who fled the scene. I just saw this article from 2018 apparently from the same town. They mention a 13 year old but no name and that the original plan was to do the deed during their senior year (would have been this year most likely). This kid would have been 13 at the time the arrests were made and about to turn 14.
I can't "like" this...because it's just too horrible. If it was anyone except you, I wouldn't even believe it...but I'm sure you wouldn't be saying this unless you'd checked it out first.
I will say this...and I'm not "defending" him, because it's indefensible, but I can understand why the school resource officer didn't shoot him on sight. I'm sure he was thinking "This can't be happening, what if I shoot and kill him and it's not a real gun, if it's a prank of some kind (Tamir Rice), this can't be happening..." and then it was too late, he was inside the building. Our hindsight is 20/20, he should have shot him on sight when he approached with a gun...but he wasn't operating with that hindsight and making a split-second decision like that...I can understand why he hesitated.
For the rest of them...no excuse. None. They're law enforcement, they HAVE to act now and suffer the consequences.
But we DO need to have clear cut policies in place in every single state and every single police department about exactly what to do...no waiting for backup, no waiting for a "command" decision, and no prosecution of the officers if they ACT and it turns out their action was wrong, even if that action cost lives.
If they don't act, as it appears they didn't in this case...then you throw the book at them.
"With certainty", well, you're correct, neither he, nor anyone else in the media can be "certain" of what happened, maybe not even if they were actually there. He can only go on what is being reported by the people who WERE there and that he believes have credibility.
But I've rarely seen him report on something that turned out to be false, and when he has, on those rare occasions, he's posted a swift retraction and an apology, so I tend to believe him more than others who often report on the latest rumors as if they were verified facts.
Back to my original contention, 36 hours, thousands of differing reports, how could he possibly make such a judgment? He owes his audience to tell WHO the trusted sources are that would cause him to besmirch the brave folks who went right into the lions’ den. Please. He owes us that. Let us decide if they’re reliable enough to call the “helpers,” basically cowards and liars.
As I said he would yesterday, Erick has corrected the statement about the SRO from the original reporting, which was corrected in a press conference yesterday, and provided sources for the other statements he made in a post today.
According to the press conference from Uvalde this afternoon, there was no SRO at the campus when the shooter rushed into the building. He entered through a back door without being confronted. The school district has 6 SROs to cover the various schools. I think we all need to wait for the investigation to be completed since eye witnesses are often not reliable witnesses.
I have never felt so infuriated and disappointed by a police department! I also felt this way because of the emotion laden delivery you made of this. I have always appreciated your views. Today, I saw your heart and you as a parent. I know you will continue to keep us informed. Erick, as always, I will continue to pray for you and your sanity in the midst of this insanity.....
This nation is NOT at all like the one I grew up in 80 years ago when I was in 4th grade. These Mothers wanted to get to their children to stop the bleeding so maybe to save them. But the police there would NOT let them. We need to ALL really Pray for this Nation. I would have NEVER believed that in the state of Texas, something like this would happen where they stopped parents and let the shooter shot. We need God in the schools but we also need GOD IN THE NATION MORE THAN EVER.
I didn't think this story could get worse. 4th grade children,,,,35 minutes to an hour...Dear God
So awful. All of these shootings are tragic. I live a couple towns southeast of Oxford, MIchigan. The Oxford shooting was horrible, and possibly preventable, but the police response was a textbook example of how to respond to a school shooting, saving many lives. The suspect was in custody within minutes. The students, faculty and staff did what they practiced in emergency drills. Classroom doors had special locks. Prayers for Uvalde.
OMG. I will never stop crying. God bless those families. Sue the f@ck out of that police department.
As of 4:25 PM no media outlet (Fox, CNN, NYT) has mentioned the horrible details you outlined: “cops waited 35 minutes to go in, cops checked on their own kids first, shooter killed a child under a table after cop yelled “who needs help”, etc. Who are your sources, Erik?
https://twitter.com/BrynnTannehill/status/1529812650716188673 and https://www.mediaite.com/crime/uvalde-mother-says-she-was-handcuffed-saw-parents-tased-and-pepper-sprayed-at-scene-of-school-shooting/ and https://www.wsj.com/articles/uvalde-residents-voice-frustration-over-shooting-response-11653588161 and https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/05/26/live-updates-uvalde-texas-school-shooting-victims-shooter-salvador-ramos-aftermath/9930459002/
Thanks for sharing your sources. However, the person at the press Conference today said there was not an SRO at the school. You said there was and he did nothing. You also said cops didn’t go in for 35+ minutes. Again, looking at your sources, SOME cops stayed outside but the first cops got inside in four minutes. Yes, it’s inexcusable how the cops outside treated the parents that way and yes, it’s inexcusable that the first cops in didn’t break in and it took an hour for the guy to get killed. But I still think you misstated or were very incomplete/misleading with some of your comments.
And yes, until after I went off air today, the report was that there was a school safety officer present, but he didn’t block the guy. The news changed after I got off air and I’ll talk about it more tomorrow.
Erik, you’re the best, but I think it’s too early to make concrete statements as you did today. There seem to be a lot of bits and pieces of this story coming out so we need more time before we (hopefully) learn the entire scope of what actually took place.
It keeps getting even worse
The news will change yet several times as the investigation goes on.
The latest report now is that some of the police did go in when they got there, but they did nothing until a tactical unit got there. It was approximately 35 minutes. The Texas police say the police who entered were afraid of getting shot.
I have watched FOX news and they say a lot of time and may be almost an hour before they went in. The SRO did talk to the shooter but let him by and to the door which was unlocked and the shooter evidently locked the door because the Police found it locked.
How can this be?! We have to hear it from those parents, hear it everyday. They must say it to the local officials, to the press, to congress, and to the world. Lord have mercy. How can this be?
Exactly how do we know this? I have seen nothing but speculation. It is horrible if true.
Infuriates me how folks a thousand miles away, in their cozy surroundings, spread here-say! Ask 100 people what happened, and you’ll get 100 different answers. Just saw where the sister of an ON THE SCENE officers reported law enforcement was inside the building from the get go. Just being “inside” doesn’t insure success, i.e., find the right source of the activity, realize you can’t jeopardize more lives, coordinate with other law enforcement ON THE SCENE, determine how to get the killer without injuring/killing more innocents, and a myriad of other considerations! So disappointed in you, Erick. These people risked their own lives, and this is the thanks they get.
Ehh... He wouldn't have reported it had there not been some pretty solid accounts of what happened. He is too credible of a person to spread rumors.
Accounts are not facts, only what a person perceives in a situation like this. Just saw a report, on FOX, killer went in at 11:40 and law enforcement went in at 11:44, after that who knows what was happening except the ones who were inside the building. Parents and other by standers had no way of knowing what was occurring inside. The ones shouting for them to “go in” could only see what was happening from one vantage point and had no way of knowing what was happening out of their line of sight. My other point, one day is hardly long enough for anyone to put the pieces together, in a complex tragedy like this, and come to a concrete opinion they have ALL the facts, from all sources, to make a certain determination, enough to publish it for an audience. Just think about it and admit no one knows yet, if ever, what happened in the aftermath. I’m disappointed he jumped to conclusions so quickly.
This would have been unacceptable before all the school shootings began but for it to occur now is reprehensible. And heartbreaking and unimaginable. Where has our compassion and our morality gone people?
Absolutely horrendous and even more so than the Parkland officer who fled the scene. I just saw this article from 2018 apparently from the same town. They mention a 13 year old but no name and that the original plan was to do the deed during their senior year (would have been this year most likely). This kid would have been 13 at the time the arrests were made and about to turn 14.
https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/two-teens-arrested-in-mass-casualty-plot-in-2018-targeting-a-uvalde-middle-school/273-548565605
I can't "like" this...because it's just too horrible. If it was anyone except you, I wouldn't even believe it...but I'm sure you wouldn't be saying this unless you'd checked it out first.
I will say this...and I'm not "defending" him, because it's indefensible, but I can understand why the school resource officer didn't shoot him on sight. I'm sure he was thinking "This can't be happening, what if I shoot and kill him and it's not a real gun, if it's a prank of some kind (Tamir Rice), this can't be happening..." and then it was too late, he was inside the building. Our hindsight is 20/20, he should have shot him on sight when he approached with a gun...but he wasn't operating with that hindsight and making a split-second decision like that...I can understand why he hesitated.
For the rest of them...no excuse. None. They're law enforcement, they HAVE to act now and suffer the consequences.
But we DO need to have clear cut policies in place in every single state and every single police department about exactly what to do...no waiting for backup, no waiting for a "command" decision, and no prosecution of the officers if they ACT and it turns out their action was wrong, even if that action cost lives.
If they don't act, as it appears they didn't in this case...then you throw the book at them.
How can he “check it out” with certainty, just 36 hours after the event?
"With certainty", well, you're correct, neither he, nor anyone else in the media can be "certain" of what happened, maybe not even if they were actually there. He can only go on what is being reported by the people who WERE there and that he believes have credibility.
But I've rarely seen him report on something that turned out to be false, and when he has, on those rare occasions, he's posted a swift retraction and an apology, so I tend to believe him more than others who often report on the latest rumors as if they were verified facts.
Back to my original contention, 36 hours, thousands of differing reports, how could he possibly make such a judgment? He owes his audience to tell WHO the trusted sources are that would cause him to besmirch the brave folks who went right into the lions’ den. Please. He owes us that. Let us decide if they’re reliable enough to call the “helpers,” basically cowards and liars.
As I said he would yesterday, Erick has corrected the statement about the SRO from the original reporting, which was corrected in a press conference yesterday, and provided sources for the other statements he made in a post today.
According to the press conference from Uvalde this afternoon, there was no SRO at the campus when the shooter rushed into the building. He entered through a back door without being confronted. The school district has 6 SROs to cover the various schools. I think we all need to wait for the investigation to be completed since eye witnesses are often not reliable witnesses.
Good lord that’s horrible and the responsible people should be punished. Of course, they’ll have to live with it the rest of their lives.
I have never felt so infuriated and disappointed by a police department! I also felt this way because of the emotion laden delivery you made of this. I have always appreciated your views. Today, I saw your heart and you as a parent. I know you will continue to keep us informed. Erick, as always, I will continue to pray for you and your sanity in the midst of this insanity.....
If this is all true the cops on site need to be charged with depraved homicide
I cannot listen to your show now. But what? I simply cannot believe that is accurate. Local police? It took the border patrol? Awful.