Uvalde mayor accuses district attorney of cover-up over school shooting evidence

by Lexi Lonas - 09/01/23 1:47 PM ET

FILE - Flowers are piled around crosses with the names of the victims killed in a school shooting as people visit a memorial at Robb Elementary School to pay their respects May 31, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Families in Uvalde, Texas, are digging in for a new test of legal protections for the gun industry as they mark one year since the Robb Elementary School shooting. Both the U.S. government and gun manufacturers in recent years have reached large settlements following some of the nation's worst mass shootings. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) — FILE – Flowers are piled around crosses with the names of the victims killed in a school shooting as people visit a memorial at Robb Elementary School to pay their respects May 31, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Families in Uvalde, Texas, are digging in for a new test of legal protections for the gun industry as they mark one year since the Robb Elementary School shooting. Both the U.S. government and gun manufacturers in recent years have reached large settlements following some of the nation’s worst mass shootings. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Uvalde, Texas, Mayor Don McLaughlin has accused District Attorney Christina Mitchell of covering up evidence related to the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022 that led to the deaths of 19 students and two teachers.

“I believe that Christina Mitchell, the District Attorney for the 38th Judicial District has been involved in a cover-up regarding the City’s investigation into the Robb School tragedy,” McLaughlin said in a statement calling on her to resign.

McLaughlin said the city filed a lawsuit against Mitchell last year because she would not give the information needed about the shooting to independent investigator Jesse Prado.

The lawsuit was dismissed because Mitchell promised to cooperate, but, “She failed, once again, to keep her word,” McLaughlin said.

“We believe she is doing so, because her Chief Investigator, Shayne Gilland, was onsite on May 24 at Robb School and this taints her entire inquiry into any possible criminal conduct by law enforcement,” the statement reads.

The city is now filing a lawsuit against Mitchell to get the evidence it says she is withholding.

The police response to the Uvalde shooting stirred controversy after it was discovered police waited 77 minutes before going into the school to stop the shooter. The investigation into the response is ongoing.

“I feel the families and our community deserve answers,” McLaughlin said.

The Hill has reached out to Mitchell’s office for comment.

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