Special Agent Luke Williams was one of the state police officers who disregarded a request to remain on the perimeter of the school and entered. “If there’s kids in there, we need to go in there,” he said, according to the report from the State House committee.
The ranger entered but moved to another part of the school to help students in other classrooms evacuate the school.
Sergeant Maldonado, who lives in Uvalde, arrived at the school with the first group of officers that included Mr. Arredondo.
In video footage reviewed by The Times, the sergeant could be seen holding a door open, armed with a rifle and wearing a tactical vest. Another officer, who stumbled outside after being shot at by the gunman, could be heard saying, “We’ve got to get in there.” Sergeant Maldonado responded, “D.P.S. is sending people,” and remained outside.
So did a D.P.S. trooper, Crimson Elizondo, who could be seen on body camera video lingering outside as others entered the school less than 10 minutes after the shooting began. Over the summer, she left the department for a job with the Uvalde school Police Department. After some parents objected, the school district fired her.
Another state police officer, Ranger Christopher Kindell, could be seen on video working on tactical plans. Later in the response, Ranger Kindell conferred extensively with Border Patrol agents inside the school who would later lead the breach team, and continued to confer even after additional gunfire prompted the team to advance to the classroom doors around 12:21 p.m. The team did not breach the doors for nearly 30 more minutes.
The actions of Ranger Kindell, Special Agent Williams and Trooper Elizondo are also under internal investigation, according to one of the people with knowledge of the inquiry.
Trooper Elizondo did not respond to a request for comment. Ranger Kindell, reached by phone, declined to comment. Special Agent Williams could not immediately be reached.
Edgar Sandoval contributed reporting from Uvalde, Texas, and Robin Stein from New York.
