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DA: Talk hurts case


Christina Mitchell

Christina Mitchell, 38th Judicial District Attorney, told the Uvalde Leader-News that possible criminal charges could stem from the investigation into the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, and she must avoid saying anything that might jeopardize any potential case.

Mitchell said Friday morning her goal is justice for the families, which, along with professional standards and ethics, is why she is seeking to keep premature information from being released as the Texas Department of Public Safety/Texas Rangers conduct the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the May 24, 2022, tragedy.

The DA has faced criticism from numerous fronts, particularly the city of Uvalde, for her stance on the investigation. 

Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr. has publicly criticized Mitchell on numerous occasions, saying he feels being ordered to refrain from sharing information is not the correct approach.

“My primary duty as the 38th Judicial District Attorney for Real and Uvalde counties is to see that justice is done in a fair and impartial manner to determine if actions in my jurisdiction rise to the level of a felony criminal offense,” Mitchell said. 

“This review can only occur after all the facts and evidence regarding an event have been gathered properly and responsibly by law enforcement without bias, prejudice, or hasty conclusions.

“My goal is to secure justice for the victims, their families, and the citizens of the 38th Judicial District. This goal cannot be accomplished unless there is a thorough investigation buttressed by fairness, integrity and impartiality free from political and media pressures.

“This investigation has been and will continue to be a top priority of my office as local, state, and federal agencies continue to work together to collect, process, and analyze all the evidence that will hopefully produce a clear understanding of this tragedy.”

Meanwhile, she said, despite repeated calls from McLaughlin and state senator Roland Gutierrez to remove her from the case, she is focused on the families affected by the tragedy.

“On May 24, 2022, 19 students and two teachers from our loving community were victims of an unspeakable tragedy at Robb Elementary; one that no community should ever experience. Following the tragic event, I, as the district attorney, worked closely with state agencies and the governor’s office to secure state funding and counseling services for our victims, their families and the Uvalde community and I continue in this endeavor,” Mitchell said.

“Even as I have refrained from public comment, my office has been in contact with the victims’ families in our effort to assist them with their unbearable loss.”

She said she has also remained silent, in part, to avoid taking the focus off the victims, and in hopes of not causing the families any further pain, including that seen when incorrect information is spread before the full facts are known.

“As we have seen, law enforcement and public officials made statements early on to advise the public of the facts of this horrible event in Uvalde. The release of initial information, unfortunately, was based on an investigation which had only just begun. This led to misunderstandings and corrections that only added to the pain and suffering of the victims, families, and our community.

“Like all Texas prosecutors, I am ethically prohibited by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct from commenting on any investigation conducted by a law enforcement agency. 

“Viewed against this backdrop, all I am ethically permitted to say is that there exists an investigation by the Texas Rangers, with the assistance of the FBI, into the mass shooting at Robb Elementary.”