Police Fear Gunman's AR-15 Battle Rifle in Uvalde Shooting

Police officers in Uvalde, Texas, hesitated to confront an 18-year-old gunman armed with an AR-15 during a school shooting in May 2021, according to a Texas Tribune investigation. Officers concluded that immediately confronting the gunman would be too dangerous, even though some officers were armed with the same rifle. They opted to wait for the arrival of a Border Patrol SWAT team, with more protective body armor, stronger shields and more tactical training. The hesitation allowed the gunman to terrorize students and teachers in two classrooms for more than an hour without interference from police.