The announcement comes on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the mass shooting.


During a press conference, Javier Cazares, father of 9-year-old victim Jacklyn Cazares, expressed his anguish and frustration, stating that there was an evident systemic failure on the day of the shooting. Cazares emphasized that no amount of money could replace the lives lost and emphasized the importance of justice and accountability for his daughter and the other victims.


The city confirmed the settlement in a statement, expressing gratitude for the victims' families' collaboration over the past year in fostering a healing environment and honoring the lives lost. The city also vowed to implement various policy changes to the police department, including a new "fitness for duty" standard for officers. Additionally, the city plans to designate May 24th as an annual Day of Remembrance, establish a committee to design a permanent memorial, and provide mental health services for the families, survivors, and community affected.


The terms of the settlement were achieved through a restorative justice process, allowing the families and the city to begin the healing and rebuilding trust in the systems that failed to protect them. The attorneys involved in the case highlighted that pursuing further legal action against Uvalde could have resulted in bankruptcy for the city, a scenario the families sought to avoid.


The attorneys further announced that they are filing a lawsuit against 92 individual Texas DPS officers, the school district, and several employees for their alleged failures in responding to the shooting. They asserted that law enforcement's inaction was a betrayal of the families and demanded justice to prevent similar tragedies in the future.


The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District remained committed to supporting the community throughout the process while refraining from commenting on the specifics of the case due to ongoing litigation.


The disastrous police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting has come under intense scrutiny in government investigative reports. A scathing US Department of Justice report in January attributed the failed response to a series of systemic failures and stated that following established practices could have saved lives. The Uvalde school district police chief was fired for his role in the incident, and his replacement has submitted his resignation.


This latest lawsuit adds to the wave of civil actions stemming from the mass shooting. The family of Eliahna Torres, a 10-year-old victim, filed a lawsuit against several entities, including the gun manufacturer and store that provided the weapon used, as well as law enforcement officials who responded. Additionally, survivors of the shooting filed a $27 billion class-action lawsuit against multiple Texas law enforcement agencies. Trial dates for these lawsuits have yet to be set.


The Robb Elementary School shooting remains one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing issue of school shootings in America. As the community grapples with the aftermath and seeks justice, the hope is that these legal actions will shed light on the failures and prevent future tragedies from occurring.