Nineteen families, whose loved ones were either killed or injured in the Uvalde, Texas mass shooting, have recently announced that they have reached a settlement with the city and county of Uvalde.
Veronica Luevanos, who lost her daughter Jailah and nephew Jayce in the tragic incident, expressed her frustration over the lack of accountability from the law enforcement agencies and officers involved. After enduring two years of pain, she welcomed the recent settlement as a positive step towards rebuilding trust in the systems that failed to protect their families. In her statement on Wednesday, she acknowledged the City of Uvalde’s genuine effort to address the issue.
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Families are nearing the two-year mark of the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School. This heartbreaking incident occurred on May 24, 2022, when an 18-year-old gunman took the lives of 19 students and two teachers. As this painful anniversary approaches, a settlement has been reached.
According to Josh Koskoff, an attorney representing the families, the Uvalde Police Department did not take any disciplinary action against the 18-year-old armed with an AR-15 for 77 minutes. There were no firings, demotions, or transparency in the matter. The families are still waiting for accountability. However, Koskoff acknowledges that the healing process must start, and he sees the commitments made by the City as a significant step in that direction.
The families played an active role in the settlement with the city and county, working together to improve the Uvalde Police Department. As a result of their efforts, significant changes were made, such as enhancing officer training and implementing a new “fitness for duty” standard for officers.
The families have emphasized that the settlement goes beyond financial compensation. It also outlines specific measures that the city must take to support the healing process of the community. These measures include designating May 24 as an annual Day of Remembrance, establishing a committee responsible for creating a permanent memorial funded by the city, and ensuring ongoing support for mental health services.
“At a news conference on Wednesday, Javier Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter, Jackie, was tragically killed, expressed his deep concern regarding justice and accountability. He emphasized that the community has been repeatedly disappointed in the past and stressed that it is now crucial to take the appropriate actions and do what is right.”
The families will receive a total of $2 million from the city’s insurance coverage. The city made this decision to avoid the risk of bankruptcy, as the families were primarily focused on healing and restoring the community.
According to Koskoff, the families of the victims have a strong attachment to this community and wish to remain here. He emphasizes that even law enforcement officers should not feel the need to avoid eye contact with them when encountering them on the street.
The city expressed its gratitude to the victims’ families for their collaborative efforts in fostering a community-wide healing environment that pays tribute to the lives and legacies of those we sadly lost.
On Wednesday, the families also revealed their intention to file lawsuits against 92 Texas Department of Public Safety officers. According to the lawsuit, these officers were trained with a priority sequence: first, to put a stop to the killings, followed by preventing further casualties, and finally, evacuating the injured.
According to Luevanos, around 100 officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety have yet to take any responsibility for their actions when they failed to act while her daughter and nephew were fatally injured in their classroom.
The lawsuit has identified the Uvalde School District and various employees as defendants, which includes the former principal and former school district police chief.
According to the families, the school’s lockdown protocols left teachers and children trapped inside, relying solely on law enforcement for assistance. The protocols instructed them to turn off the lights, lock the doors, and remain quiet.
According to Koskoff, the families are also intending to file a lawsuit against the federal government. He pointed out that there were more than 150 federal officers present at the school, and they remained idle for 77 minutes before one or more of them entered the room.
