Three years after the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the community’s wounds remain raw—and the search for answers continues to face stubborn roadblocks. Despite court orders and mounting public pressure, Uvalde school officials are still withholding crucial internal emails and documents related to the May 24, 2022, massacre that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, according to recent reports from CNN, News 4 San Antonio, and other media outlets.
The latest revelations surfaced on August 22, 2025, when it became clear that, even after the release of hundreds of documents, body camera videos, and 911 calls, key pieces of correspondence remain locked away. Among the most significant of the withheld documents is an email sent by then-Principal Mandy Gutierrez nine months before the shooting. In that message, Gutierrez warned district leaders that classroom doors at Robb Elementary were not functioning properly and, crucially, could not be locked from the inside—a failure that would ultimately play a devastating role in the gunman’s ability to enter classrooms unimpeded.
According to CNN’s review of the unreleased email, Gutierrez wrote, “With the increased bailout activity in our area, this creates a potentially unsafe situation for students.” She asked for extra keys for substitute teachers to avoid leaving doors unlocked, referencing the frequent chases of suspected undocumented immigrants near the school. Gutierrez added, “At this time I am prioritizing student safety and am open to any practices that ensure the well-being of our students and staff.” There is no public record of a response to her warning.
The principal’s email was only one part of a broader trove of documents that media organizations fought to make public. Earlier in August, after a three-year campaign and a successful lawsuit by outlets including News 4 San Antonio, Fox SA, and CNN, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) released 439 megabytes of data. However, multiple sources told CNN that 541 megabytes had actually been prepared for release, suggesting a significant portion—over 100 megabytes—remains withheld. Among the missing files are 48 pages of correspondence about the termination of then-school police chief Pete Arredondo and a 99-page file on Principal Gutierrez, which was marked “Do not release.”
The gaps in disclosure have reignited pain and anger among survivors and the families of those killed, who have long demanded transparency. “There has to be more emails than that,” survivor teacher Arnie Reyes said in a Facebook video, after reviewing the limited correspondence released. Reyes, who was the only survivor in Classroom 111, described the need for full disclosure as a matter of closure and healing: “I laid on a floor in a puddle of blood that I could see getting bigger. I could hear what was going on, and I could just imagine the pain that my students had gone through. So, this is two totally different battles. It’s not to bring up the pain again of that day. It is for closure, for me, it is for closure.”
Families of the victims, too, remain haunted by unanswered questions. As Texas Public Radio reported, even with new files released by the school district and Uvalde County, the central question of how security protocols failed so catastrophically that day remains unresolved. More than three years after the tragedy, the suffering for many families is compounded by the lack of clear answers and accountability.
The issue of transparency is not just about emails and paperwork—it’s about restoring trust in public institutions. In the immediate aftermath of the massacre, the City of Uvalde released large portions of body camera footage from its officers, but Uvalde County only published material after losing a court case. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which led the investigation, still refuses to share its public records. The school district, for its part, pledged transparency after a unanimous school board vote to release records earlier this August. “As we navigate the aftermath of this heartbreaking event, we pledge to remain transparent and supportive,” the district stated. Yet, lawyers for the media coalition say that promise has not been kept.
“Specifically, UCISD has not produced all emails and text messages that are responsive to our clients’ requests,” wrote attorneys representing the coalition, which includes CNN and the San Antonio Express-News. Their letter pointed out that, while 3,700 pages of emails from former deputy superintendent Michael Rodriguez were released, there were only 113 pages related to district spokesperson Anne Marie Espinoza and 219 pages from then-superintendent Hal Harrell. “It is simply inconceivable that UCISD’s production represents the totality of correspondence to and from the District’s spokesperson and superintendent in the wake of the deadliest school shooting in Texas history,” the letter continued. Known emails sent by news organizations were also missing from the production.
Some of the most controversial omissions relate to the district’s handling of former police chief Pete Arredondo. While bereaved parents demanded his firing for the law enforcement’s 77-minute delayed response, district officials were quietly reaching out to his attorney to discuss a possible settlement. In an unreleased email obtained by CNN, Arredondo’s lawyer wrote, “You and your colleague on behalf of your client asked for a settlement offer, so we provided it,” and accused the school board of acting in bad faith. It remains unclear if any payment was made, and Arredondo was ultimately fired three months after the massacre. He now faces 10 counts of child endangerment and criminal negligence, while former officer Adrian Gonzales faces 29 counts of abandoning and endangering a child; both have pleaded not guilty.
The failures of law enforcement on that day were sharply criticized in a 2024 Department of Justice report, which found Arredondo at fault but also blamed then-acting Uvalde Police Chief Mariano Pargas and Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco for failing to take effective command. The report highlighted that at least 376 officers responded, but no one tried the classroom doors to see if they were locked before Border Patrol agents breached and killed the shooter. Video and witness statements showed all three entrance doors to the fourth grade building were unlocked, and teachers had repeatedly complained about malfunctioning locks.
The controversy has not been limited to the immediate aftermath. The school board faced public outrage for retaining Arredondo for months after the shooting and later hired a Texas trooper who had been under investigation for her actions during the massacre—she was subsequently fired following CNN’s reporting. The entire school police force was suspended, and two other officials were let go.
As of late August 2025, the district’s executive director of communications, Anne Marie Espinoza, told CNN that requests for comment on the missing files had been referred to the district’s law firm. “We are dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and precise response and actively collaborating with our legal team to guarantee that the district adheres fully to the court order. We will share any updates as soon as they become available, and we appreciate your patience regarding this situation,” she wrote in an email.
For the families of Uvalde, the survivors, and the broader community, the road to healing remains blocked by secrecy and bureaucratic resistance. The fight for transparency, accountability, and closure is far from over, but the voices demanding answers are only growing louder.
