He answered questions via a phone interview and in statements provided through his lawyer, George E. In his first extended comments since the May 24 massacre, the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, Arredondo gave The Texas Tribune an account of what he did inside the school during the attack. Finally, 77 minutes after the massacre began, officers were able to unlock the door and fatally shoot the gunman. вЂњEach time I tried a key I was just praying,вЂќ Arredondo said. When keys arrived, he tried dozens of them, but one by one they failed to work. He called for tactical gear, a sniper and keys to get inside, holding back from the doors for 40 minutes to avoid provoking sprays of gunfire. The chief of police for the Uvalde school district spent more than an hour in the hallway of Robb Elementary School. вЂњThe only thing that was important to me at this time was to save as many teachers and children as possible,вЂќ Arredondo said. Without body armor, he assumed he might die.

Arredondo thought he could shoot the gunman himself or at least draw fire while another officer shot back. One goddamn key and he could get through that door to the kids and the teachers. It was sturdily built with a steel jamb, impossible to kick in. Only a locked classroom door stood between Pete Arredondo and a chance to bring down the gunman. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Д®ditorвЂ™s note: This story contains explicit language. ' Waiting for keys, unable to break down doors: Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunman' was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. By James BarragГЎn and Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune

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