Report says Uvalde shooting attacker showed warning signs that were missed
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House Committee’s 77-page report says notoriety and fame was a motiving factor for the gunman to carry out the massacre at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. The report details the gunman’s life and actions leading up to the shooting that the killed 19 children and two teachers.
One year before the massacre, the gunman earned the name “school shooter” on social media and made violent threats towards others. That’s just one of several red flags mentioned in the report that went ignored.
According to the investigation, on the eve of the Robb Elementary shooting the attacker hinted about “doing something.” The report also says the gunman exhibited unstable behavior and he had been planning an attack.
Licensed Professional Counselor and Founder of The Brain Performance Center Leigh Richardson is reacting to the investigation.
“My reaction is, you know, these are findings that we've seen in other shooters, he came from a home where his parents were not present,” she said.
According to the report the shooter’s family was aware of his violent behavior. He and his mother got into an argument that was live-streamed on Instagram. Shortly after, he moved in with his grandmother who lives close to Robb Elementary. In the final months of his life, he also started wearing black clothes and posting gory images on social media.
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“He was screaming for help. Anytime you're posting images of suicides or beheadings or some of the things that he was posting, that's not a normal expression of emotion. That's a cry out for help,” says Richardson.
CBS Austin asked Richardson “what should we do when we see somebody portraying that type of behavior?”
Richardson says “I think that we can all intervene. If you see that lone wolf, if you see someone that's so isolated, that you can tell they're not engaged in life, reach out to them. And it can be as simple as hey, how you doing today?”
The massacre happened in the gunman’s fourth-grade classroom. His teacher testified before lawmakers that he was bullied. Richardson says past shooters have a history of being victimized.
“He had told others he was saving up for something big. And I can't imagine knowing the environment that he came from, how you could have thought that that would be a positive factor ?,” said Richardson.
The gunman’s background check came back clean when purchasing the guns as detailed in the report. The report also says the gun store owner says the attacker seemed like a normal customer but did question how he could afford the firearms. The report says the attacker told the gunman he “saved up.” Other people in the store had a different account saying he seemed nervous and his all black clothing gave “bad vibes.”
Richardson stresses the importance of speaking up when you suspect something’s off. She says if you’re scared of approaching someone report it to authorities or to someone who can help.
“I read a study online about a young man who planned out an execution. And someone the day he was going to do it was so kind to him and treated him with such grace. He didn't do it,” she said.
To view the full report click here.
