Teacher closed door gunman used to enter school, authorities say; Uvalde community lays first victims to rest: Updates

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous subheadline in this story misstated that the Uvalde school district police chief wouldn’t be sworn into his elected City Council seat.

UVALDE, Texas — The teacher who police said left a door propped open minutes before a gunman entered Robb Elementary School and murdered 19 children and two teachers had actually closed the door, though it did not lock, state authorities now say.

The new development adds to a list of revised accounts from authorities of the May 24 school shooting, including the amount of time before law enforcement officials entered the classrooms where the gunman was shooting and details about officers’ interactions with the gunman. 

State police initially said the teacher, who has not been identified, propped the door open with a rock and did not remove it before the gunman entered. 

“We did verify she closed the door. The door did not lock. We know that much and now investigators are looking into why it did not lock,” Travis Considine, chief communications officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, volunteers have flooded into Uvalde from around Texas to help as the first funerals began Tuesday for the students and teachers killed last week, including funeral directors, therapy dogs, florists and others.

The first two funerals were set for Tuesday afternoon and evening, following visitations on Monday at the town’s two funeral homes where  Amerie Jo Garza, 10, and Maite Rodríguez, 10, will be laid to rest. Amerie Jo Garza, 10, was remembered as an “outgoing and funny” child who “wanted to help everyone else out,” and Maite Rodríguez, 10, was described as “smart, bright, beautiful, happy” and dreamed of being a marine biologist.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also issued a disaster declaration on Tuesday, which his office said would “accelerate all available state and local resources to assist the Uvalde community, as well as suspend regulations that would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the aftermath of the tragic shooting.”

Amerie Jo Garza is the first victim laid to rest

Amerie Jo Garza had a heart of gold. She also was named to the school honor roll. Those who knew her described her as a kind, caring, blunt, loving, sweet, sassy, and funny little diva who “hated dresses.” She was 10 years old. 

On Tuesday, family and friends laid her to rest. She was the first victim to be buried, starting several weeks of funerals in the South Texas city overwhelmed by sadness and pain.