Uvalde, Texas, school where deadly mass shooting occurred will be torn down, mayor says
UVALDE, Texas – The Texas elementary school where an 18-year-old gunman shot and killed 21 people will be torn down, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said Tuesday.
According to CNN, McLaughlin said it was his “understanding” that Robb Elementary School, the site of the May 24 mass shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead, will be demolished.
“You could never ask a child to go back or a teacher to go back to that school – ever,” he told residents at a Uvalde City Council meeting, according to the news outlet.
Texas elementary school shooting: What we know about the victims
McLaughlin, who did not specify a date for the demolition, added that he has discussed the issue with the school district’s superintendent, CNN reported.
The mayor also weighed in on comments made by Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw during a Texas Senate committee hearing earlier in the day, according to the Texas Tribune. McLaughlin accused McCraw, who called the response to the shooting an “abject failure,” of singling out local law enforcement in an attempt to deflect criticism against his own agency, the newspaper reported.
Uvalde shooting hearing: School police chief ‘put the lives of officers ahead of … children’
“McCraw has continued to, whether you want to call it, lie, leak … mislead or misstate information in order to distance his own troopers and rangers from the response,” McLaughlin said, according to the newspaper.
McLaughlin went on to say Uvalde officials have not been briefed on the shooting investigation, which is being led by the Texas Rangers, CNN reported.
Although the city had said it would not reveal information learned during the ongoing investigation, McLaughlin changed course, saying, “The gloves are off. If we know it, we will share it,” the Tribune reported.
The Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, comforts families outside of the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Members of the community gather at the city of Uvalde Town Square for a prayer vigil in the wake of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
People react outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
The Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, right, comforts families outside of the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
The American flag flies at half staff on the White House after President Joe Biden spoke about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, from the White House, in Washington, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
President Joe Biden speaks to the nation about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, from the White House, in Washington, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, as first lady Jill Biden listens.
President Joe Biden tells reporters he will speak about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, later in the evening as he arrives at the White House, in Washington, from his trip to Asia, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
People react outside the Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at a Texas elementary school, killing multiple people.
People wait outside of the Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, killing multiple people.
Law enforcement personnel stand next to an armored vehicle outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel gather gear outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel, including the FBI, gather near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel, including the FBI, arrive at Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
A Texas State Police officer walks outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement, and other first responders, gather outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden board Air Force One on Sunday for a trip to Uvalde, Texas. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived in San Antonio on board Air Force One on Sunday and headed toward Uvalde, Texas. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden talk with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg as they arrive at Kelly Field in San Antonio before visiting Robb Elementary School. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as they arrive at Garner Field in Uvalde. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit Robb Elementary School to pay their respects to the victims of Tuesday’s mass shooting. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden talk with Principal Mandy Gutierrez and superintendent Hal Harrell as they visit Robb Elementary School on Sunday (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Robb Elementary School on Sunday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit a memorial at Robb Elementary School on Sunday and view photos of the victims from Tuesday’s mass shooting. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden view the memorial set up at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects at a memorial for students and teachers outside Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden drive past a memorial site in the town square of Uvalde set up for those killed in Tuesday’s school mass shooting. The President and first lady were on their way to Robb Elementary School. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
People gather at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to pay their respects to the victims killed in last week’s school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Gemma Hernandez, a high school teacher from San Antonio prays outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, center, prays with pastor Gabriel Davila and wife, Sylvia, outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman in last week’s school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Dan Beazley, right, with his son Joey Beazley, from Detroit, carry their wooden cross as they pray at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. Multiple people were killed by an 18-year-old gunman at the school last week. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A heart shaped balloon flies decorating a memorial site outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. 19 children and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman at the school last week. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
People visit a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Brian Hackett, 39, visits a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to pay his respects to the victims killed in last week’s school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Flowers, stuffed animals and candles are piled around a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to honor the victims killed in last week’s school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Cat Perez, 39, lays flowers at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to honor the victims killed in last week’s school shooting. Photographs of the victims, from left, show Layla Salazar, McKenna Lee Elrod, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos and Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Dorina Davila, left, from San Antonio, places flowers at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A woman kneels at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, to pay her respects to the victims killed in last week’s school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A school building stands behind a tree with an American flag and crime scene tape at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
People visit a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Monday, May 30, 2022. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old entered the school and fatally shot several children and teachers. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Salvatore Di Grazia, a teacher visiting from Rio Grande Valley, Texas, prays at a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Monday, May 30, 2022, for the victims killed in last week’s school shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
