The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced Friday that the Uvalde County District Attorney’s Office has decided to block the release of a 77-minute video showing footage of the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Republican state Rep. Dustin Burrows was told in a letter this week by Texas Homeland Security Operations Deputy Director Freeman Martin that although the video does not show children, DPS had been told not to release it, Fox 7 first reported Austin. Burrows, chairman of the House Investigative Committee into Robb’s elementary shooting, said he had requested a copy of the video without sound as part of a preliminary report the committee is working on. UVALDE, TEXAS MAYOR DURING ‘COVER-UP’ SHOOTING INVESTIGATION DPS responded and said that while they would like to release the video, the DA’s office had instructed them not to. Martin said, in response to Burrows’ letter, that DPS believes “the video is likely to bring clarity to the public about the tragic events in Uvalde.” “In fact, releasing this video would help us provide as much transparency to the public as possible without interfering with the investigation in the way that immediate public release of all the evidence would,” he added. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin also supported Burrows’ request Friday and said the video “will likely bring clarity to the public, the families of the victims and the survivors.” Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, is questioning Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw. (Fox New Digital) UVALDE POLICE OFFICER HAD GUN ON HIS RIFLE BEFORE ENTERING SCHOOL BUT DID NOT SHOOT, REPORT SAYS The video in question ends immediately before the 4th grade classroom violation where the gunman, identified as Salvador Ramos, killed 21 people, including 19 children. Questions remain about why armed law enforcement waited more than an hour before confronting the gunman. Some reports suggest there were missed opportunities where police could have stopped Ramos before he entered the school, though Ulvand’s mayor dismissed those claims this week. The investigation into the fatal attack continues and prosecutor Christina Mitchell-Busbee has faced criticism for her slow response to parents who want answers. People leave the Uvalde Civic Center Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP McLaughlin, in coordination with state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, sent a letter to GOP Gov. Greg Abbott this week calling for her removal after parents complained they couldn’t access the victim assistance fund. Fox News was not immediately able to reach Mitchell-Busbee, and it remains unclear why it blocked the release of the video. Caitlin McFall is a reporter for Fox News Digital. She can be reached at [email protected] or @ctlnmcfall on Twitter.
