The Uvalde teacher who was shot several times and lost all 11 of his students has criticised the police for how slowly they responded while a gunman killed teachers and students.
On May 34, Salvador Ramos, who was 18 years old, started shooting at Robb Elementary School. He killed 19 students and 2 teachers. A lot of other people were hurt.
Arnulfo Reyes lost all 11 students in his class when the shooting happened. He told Good Morning America on Tuesday, June 7, that May 24 was supposed to be a good day with a special awards ceremony for students as the school year was coming to an end.
He said that after the ceremony, some kids went home with their parents, but 11 stayed. Salvador Ramos, who was 18 years old, came into the building and started shooting as Reyes showed them a movie.
"The kids began to ask Mr. Reyes out loud, "What's going on?" "I don't know what's going on," I said.
But let's get under the table and pretend you're sleeping,' "Arnulfo Reyes, who taught third and fourth grade in room 111, thought back on that time.
"About the time they were doing that, I turned around and saw him standing there," she said.
Reyes said that the shooter went into room 111 through the door of room 112, which was right next to it.
Reyes was shot twice. One bullet went through his arm and lung, and the other hit him in the back.
"I told my kids to act like they were sleeping, so I'll do the same. And I prayed over and over that none of my students would talk, "Reyes thought back.
He said, "Yes, ma'am," when asked if he thought he was going to die.
According to audio evidence, the gunman entered the school at 11:33 a.m. and started shooting at rooms 111 and 112 that were next to each other. He fired more than 100 rounds, the Texas Department of Public Safety said before.
Officers quickly followed the gunman into the school, but it wasn't until 12:50 p.m., 77 minutes later, that they went into the classroom where he was.
Reyes said he would never forgive the police for taking more than an hour to stop the shooter.
Reyes told ABC News, "They're scaredy-cats." "They just sat there and didn't help our community in any way. They went in very slowly.
I'll never be able to forgive them."
I remembered hearing a child in the next classroom (room 112) cry out for help.
We're in here, officer! We are inside, "Reyes says that's what the student said.
He said that when the shooter heard the voice, "he got up from behind my desk, walked over there, and shot again."
Reyes eventually heard the officers tell the gunman that they wanted to talk by calling him over.
After the door was finally broken down, the shooter was killed by Border Patrol.
He said that the police's response to the shooting and how long it took for them to get into the classrooms made him "angry."
Because of how long it took for help to arrive, all of his students died in the rampage.
After everything, the fact that you have a bulletproof vest makes me even more angry. I was broke. I was broke.
You're supposed to keep people safe and help them. There's no excuse for what they did "Reyes said.
"This family lost one child that day, but I lost 11," Reyes said with tears in his eyes.
I say, "I'm sorry, Mom and Dad." I did what I was told as well as I could. Don't get mad at me, please.'"
Reyes said that students and staff can't be prepared for an active shooter situation through training.
He said, "Nothing can prepare you for this." "I thought at the time that we taught our kids to sit under the table, but what we really did was train them to be like ducks.
You can teach us as much as you want. But laws about guns need to change. It won't change until the laws are changed "Reyes added.
He said that in honour of the 21 people who died, he will do everything he can to make sure things change.
I only know that I won't let these kids and my coworkers die for nothing.
I won't do it, "he said. "I'll go anywhere, even to the end of the world, to make sure my students don't die for nothing.
EXCLUSIVE: Arnulfo Reyes, teacher wounded in Uvalde shooting, to @arobach: “I will not let these children and my coworkers die in vain. I will not. I will go to the end of the world to not let my students die in vain.” https://t.co/0pvPuyw2g1 pic.twitter.com/uj1yZRAsAK
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 7, 2022