UVALDE, Texas – UPDATE 5/5/25: The Uvalde PD Facebook page said a contribution from the Bonnett Family has increased the reward to $3,500.
(Original Story)
The memorial crosses representing the names of 19 children and two teachers killed on May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School were vandalized, according to a social media post by the Uvalde Police Department.
State Rep. Don McLaughlin, the former mayor of Uvalde, has offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the vandalism.
Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado said the damage happened between 11 p.m. on Wednesday and 6 a.m. on Thursday. Several crosses were turned around, with a few knocked over.
Degaldo said a couple of the crosses sustained damage, but family members came by to fix up the memorial.
“We never imagined that anyone would be so callous to do something here at this location,” Delgado said.
A family member of a victim who stops by the memorial every morning reported the damage to a state trooper, Delgado said.
The Department of Public Safety has had troopers stationed outside of Robb Elementary since the 2022 shooting. In an email to KSAT, an unnamed spokesperson said troopers had a shift change around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. The agency said neither noticed anything suspicious.
KSAT has asked DPS if it plans to investigate what happened, but has yet to hear back.
“Whose job is it to make sure that nothing happens to Robo Elementary and the memorial here?” asked KSAT reporter Daniela Ibarra.
“It’s everyone’s job,” Delgado said. “From the community members to all law enforcement that are here in Uvalde. Ultimately, it’s mine.”
In a statement shared on Facebook, Delgado urged the community not to blame DPS or its troopers.
“They have been—and continue to be—a vital partner in our efforts to keep Uvalde safe,“ Delgado wrote. ”Their support, presence, and collaboration are essential to the progress we are making as a department and as a community."
“Have our children not gone through enough?”
Brett Cross, the guardian of shooting victim Uziyah Garcia, rarely visits the memorial.
While it’s a place for people to reflect and pay their respects, it’s hard for him to be there.
“These children, these teachers — they were what made this world good," Cross said.
He doesn’t understand why someone would disrespect the victims this way.
“It’s just horrible,” Cross said. “Have our children not gone through enough? And I know that they’re not here to know what’s going on or anything but we still are.”
Uvalde CISD Superintendent Ashley Chohlis provided KSAT with a statement on Thursday on behalf of the district.
“The memorial crosses at Robb Elementary, which honor our 21 beloved angels, have been vandalized. This act has caused profound sorrow and grief for us all in our community as we continue to mourn the loss of our cherished angels. The school serves as a beacon of hope and remembrance for our community, and we encourage everyone to come together in compassion and support during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Chohlis stated that the district is working closely with Uvalde police to identify those responsible.
Anyone with relevant information on the investigation is encouraged to contact the Uvalde Police’s Investigations Division at 830-278-9147.
KSAT has a crew in Uvalde. We will update the story when more information becomes available.
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