Uvalde school shooting: A Texas state trooper who was one of the first responders to the school shooting has been fired, official says.

CNN
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Sergeant Juan Maldonado, a Texas state trooper, was one of the first responders. Uvalde mass school shooting He was fired from the state Department of Public Safety in May, spokeswoman Erica Miller told CNN on Friday.

The Department of Public Safety did not release the reason for the termination.

CNN has requested more details from the department regarding their layoff process, including the timeline and possible appeals process. CNN has reached out to Maldonado for comment.

Maldonado was ousted after public outcry and condemnation over the slowness of law enforcement’s response to the shooting at Rapp Elementary. Where Teenage gunman On May 24, he entered a neighboring classroom and opened fire.

The shooter was killed 19 students and two teachers Several others were injured, while dozens of officers who arrived at the scene failed to immediately bring down the gunman.

In early August, CNN was the first to break the news Maldonado was seen on body camera video, arriving 4 minutes and 51 seconds after the gunman began his massacre, the worst school shooting in the United States since 2012.

According to a Texas House investigation committee, a total of 376 law enforcement officers would arrive at the scene, but it took 77 minutes from the start of the attack before the gunman was shot and killed by officers. Among those at the scene were 91 Department of Public Safety officers.

In August, DPS Director Col. Steven McGraw Announced an internal review Seven consecutive officers of each DPS officer who responded to the shooting were referred to the inspector general for further investigation. Their names have not been released publicly.

CNN identified one of the officers under investigation as Capt. Joel Betancourt issued an order classrooms to delay trespassing while a Border Patrol tactical unit enters and detains the gunman. As of Thursday, Betancourt was on active duty. DPS declined to comment on Betancourt when asked by CNN Friday.

Another DPS officer was investigated Crimson Elizando, who left the department and was later hired as a police officer for the Uvalde Unified Independent School District. He was removed from that position following the CNN report What she did and said At Rob Elementary on the day of the massacre during the response.

McGraw told CNN in September that no official would be authorized, and that he would take over if necessary.

“I will resign first, I will resign gladly, if I think there is anything wrong in the public safety department I will submit my resignation to the governor. Time,” he said.

CNN A Alliance of News Agencies sued DPS for records related to the hearings withheld from the media and public.

As the fallout from law enforcement’s poor response to the massacre at Rapp Elementary continues, victims’ families are demanding greater accountability from authorities.

The school board fired in August Peter Arredondo, who was the police chief of the Uvalde school district at the time of the shooting. State officials identified Arredondo as the on-scene police commander, though he said he did not consider himself in charge.

At the time, DPS Director McCraw blamed Arredondo for the officers’ failure to confront the shooter and the commander alone stopping the officers. Local officials criticized McCraw and DPS Lack of transparency Regarding their investigation.

Some parents also called for the removal of Hal Harrell, who served as the Uvalde School District’s superintendent. Harrell duly retired This week.

“I am truly grateful for your support and well wishes. My decision to retire was not taken lightly, it was taken after much prayer and discernment,” he said in a social media post dated October 10. “My heart broke on May 24 and I always pray for every precious life that has been lost. Their families were also taken away.

Harrell’s retirement came months after a Texas state House committee investigated the response Not complying with school safety policies. The committee’s report also said the school failed to adequately prepare for the risk of an armed intruder and the common practice of leaving doors unlocked.

Before retiring, Harrell Security measures announcedIncluding at least 33 officers, 500 cameras and the installation of fences around the premises.

is from the district Suspended It placed a lieutenant and another high school officer on leave as part of its police force operations and its investigation.