Tens of thousands of pages related to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting are to be released after a lawyer for the school district admitted to a mistake in withholding records.
Robb Decker of Walsh Gallegos, representing the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD), told an emotional board meeting: 'We had not released all of the responsive information. That was an error on our side.'
Teary board members apologised and stressed they had no part in the withholding. Trustee Jaclyn Gonzales said approximately 26,000 pages, comprising about 8,600 emails, would be released, though no specific date was given.
Speaking directly to a surviving teacher and a victim's grandfather, Gonzales added: 'We absolutely want to be transparent. We know what it means to the families.'
Board member Jesse Rizo, uncle of a nine-year-old victim, called for new legal counsel and accused the firm of negligence, saying calling the withholding an 'error' was 'putting it very lightly'. A motion to release almost all documents, including attorney-client privileged material, passed unanimously.
The admission came weeks after UCISD released thousands of pages following a legal battle. The records include emails, text messages with police, and details on the shooter, Salvador Ramos, portraying his poor academic performance and lack of attendance.
