AUSTIN, Texas — The chairman of a Texas House committee investigating the Uvalde school shooting indicated Tuesday that he would defy a local district attorney and release video from within Robb Elementary School to the public.
Lubbock Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows said on Twitter that he plans to show the more than hourlong video to victims’ families before releasing it to the public Sunday. The video depicts law enforcement in hallways of the school, but has been edited to remove footage of the shooter opening fire and police charging the 18-year-old gunman.
Burrows looks poised to defy Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee, who has barred the release of any video footage from the shooting citing an ongoing investigation. A chorus of state lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott, have called on Busbee to release the video.
Burrows said on Twitter he would hold a meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday in Uvalde with victims’ families and then, at some point later that day, release the video to the public.
“We feel strongly that members of the Uvalde community should have the opportunity to see the video and hear from us before they are made public,” Burrows said on Twitter.
At a meeting of the House investigative committee into the shooting in Austin on Monday, Burrows stressed the need for the public to see the video to answer lingering questions about why police waited more than an hour to confront the 18-year-old gunman while he was inside a classroom with children.
“The committee can tell people all day long what we saw, but it’s very different to see it for yourself,” Burrows said Monday. “We think that’s very important, and we’ll continue to put pressure on the situation and consider all options in making sure that video gets out for the public to view.”
Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in the May 24 shooting. Seventeen were injured.
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