Uvalde families continue to fight for justice after city releases files and records

AUSTIN, Texas – It's been over a week since a trove of audio, video and document files were released that shed new light on the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

911 calls from students and others, as well as body camera footage and surveillance video of the May 24, 2022, shooting, were included in a massive collection of audio and video recordings released by Uvalde City Council on Saturday following a lengthy legal battle.

The Associated Press and other news organizations filed suit after authorities initially refused to release the information. The massacre, which left 19 students and two teachers dead, was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.

Stephanie Sherman, an attorney representing several families and survivors of the victims, spoke with FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak on this FOX 7 Focus about what's next in her fight for justice.

JOHN KRINJAK: Stephanie, thank you for being with us. First, I want to ask you if among all the files released was the audio recording of a 911 call from the shooter's uncle.

JOHN KRINJAK: Aside from the fact that the noise was just plain scary, what did you notice when you heard that distress call?

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: Well, John, that's the result of our last conversation about the suppression of evidence. And now we have the release of this crucial piece of evidence over two years after the shooting. And in Texas, there's a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims. And that was calculated that way. That's just more traumatic for the families and the survivors.

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JOHN KRINJAK: And I understand that you're now representing the shooter's grandmother, who herself was shot earlier that same day, right? What's her perspective on all of this?

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: She's a victim too, John. And she allowed him to stay with her temporarily because he had been kicked out of his mother's house and was trying to get to San Antonio. So she was the good grandmother and had no idea he was buying an AR-15 and stockpiling ammo. Her cheek was blown off, her jaw was blown off. But now she's dealing with the aftermath and PTSD, like all the other victims in this community.

JOHN KRINJAK: And aside from this 911 call, there is so much audio and video recordings, body cameras. Is there anything that stands out to you among all the files that have been released?

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: When I listen to the body cameras and the videos and things like that, it's clear to me that this is a police force that really lacks the training, the confidence and the know-how to handle a situation this serious.

JOHN KRINJAK: We heard for the first time from former Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who was of course fired, who spoke out in an interview.

JOHN KRINJAK: He says he feels like he has to be used as a scapegoat. How do you react to his comments?

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: I mean, that's entirely possible. He's being made a scapegoat. But the training program for a shooting spree is very clear that someone has to take command, and that's distract, neutralize, kill. Even if they initially retreated, you have to do everything you can to neutralize the shooter. And that wasn't done. And that's obvious after 77 minutes.

JOHN KRINJAK: And let's just look forward. I mean, obviously there's a lot of uncertainty with these litigations. We talked about Arredondo, but there's another officer, one of his former officers, who's been charged. Do you think there might be further consequences for other law enforcement agencies in the future?

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: That could certainly happen. The Uvalde County District Attorney is leading the investigation and has filed charges against these two officers. They are high-level people who were under her responsibility and should be in charge. I think there could be more charges. I'm not sure. But the community certainly wants accountability. They want these officers prosecuted. And I'm glad that these steps are being taken.

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JOHN KRINJAK: And you know, where is this fight for justice going from the perspective of these families?

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: Well, the challenge in this case is that police officers in Texas have immunity, and so Texas case law doesn't allow many of these cases to go forward. It's going to be an uphill battle in court. In my cases, all of the defendants have already filed motions to dismiss, so if we get through the motions to dismiss, which will be discussed in the fall, and we win, that's a huge victory. But that's not guaranteed.

JOHN KRINJAK: All right. Stephanie Sherman, attorney, represents some of the Uvalde victim and survivor families. Thank you again, Stephanie, for being here. We appreciate it.

STEPHANIE SHERMAN: Thank you, John. Have a nice day.