UVALDE, Texas — A review of the Uvalde Independent School District records released Monday reveals a troubling history of behavioral issues and academic decline in the life of the shooter, who spiraled out of control from a once promising student.
In kindergarten, teachers described him as “a remarkable little boy,” “a sweet little boy,” and “a very hard worker,” in a report card. However, by middle school, a pattern of behavioral issues emerged, including insubordination, fighting, and harassment.
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In May 2018, the shooter hit another student for “snitching on him,” and records show a school suspension in March 2018 for “repeated harassment and bullying” and “insubordination.” He was noted for using inappropriate sexual language toward another student and insubordination toward staff.
On May 9, 2018, he received an in-school suspension for drawing an inappropriate picture on an assignment. His academic performance also declined, with a dropping GPA and frequent absences. By October 2021, he withdrew from school in 10th grade due to “poor academic performance and a lack of attendance.”
In 2023, FBI interviews with people who knew him revealed further red flags, including carrying around dead cats and making violent threats. He reportedly told friends they would see him in the press.
Dr. Phillip Resnick, a forensic psychiatrist specializing in violence risk and school shooters at Case Western University, told us that school shooters are planners, which allows for intervention before something happens.
We have someone who’s marginalized, has difficulties with friendships, has difficulty losing in online games, and poor emotional control,” Resnick said. “He was bullied, in part because he had a lisp. He wanted to be famous.
Despite the warning signs, nothing was reported. “The warning signs, clearly when you put them all together, were strong in retrospect,” Resnick said.
Records also show the shooter threatened a substitute teacher and bullied a girl to the point she refused to attend class. The school attempted to contact his family numerous times, but calls went unanswered.