Texas Speaker Dade Phelan announces House investigation into Uvalde school shooting

AUSTIN — Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan introduced Friday the creation of a particular investigative committee to look at the Robb Elementary School shooting.

Phelan chosen two House members and former Texas Supreme Court decide Eva Guzman, who unsuccessfully ran for legal professional normal this yr, to serve on the committee.

“The fact we still do not have an accurate picture of what exactly happened in Uvalde is an outrage,” Phelan stated in a media assertion.

The investigative committee can have subpoena energy to compel witness testimony and proof associated to the May 24 shooting that left 19 youngsters and two adults lifeless, in addition to 17 injured. Phelan stated the committee will study proof from legislation enforcement and can attain findings within the shooting “as soon as possible to help inform the work of the House.”

Joining Guzman are Lubbock Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows and El Paso Democrat Rep. Joe Moody. Burrows will chair the committee.

Phelan’s announcement comes after Gov. Greg Abbott requested the formation of particular committees in each the House and Senate to look at school security within the wake of the shooting.

Phelan’s investigative committee is separate from the particular committees and is the primary legislative inquiry into the legislation enforcement response to the shooting that has come underneath intense scrutiny. At the middle of the controversy is the choice by Uvalde faculties police Chief Pedro “Pete” Arredondo to not confront the 18-year-old gunman for greater than 45 minutes whereas as many as 19 officers had gathered within the halls of Robb Elementary.

“Every day, we receive new information that conflicts with previous reports, making it not only difficult for authorities to figure out next steps, but for the grieving families of the victims to receive closure,” Phelan stated.

The Justice Department can also be investigating the police response to the shooting.

Burrows stated the committee will start its work instantly to supply a “full and truthful account of what happened in Uvalde.”

“As the father of three young boys, this unimaginable tragedy brought me to my knees and it is with that same fervor that I commit to finding answers for the parents of Uvalde,” Burrows stated in an announcement. “This investigation will be thorough and complete, with no preconceived notions of what did or did not occur. Our goal is to provide an unbiased and objective report that can be relied upon by the legislature as it considers policy to prevent future school shootings.”