JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

And now we flip to Kimberly Mata-Rubio. Her 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, was once one of the most 19 scholars killed at Robb Fundamental Faculty that day. We have now spoken with Kimberly a lot of instances in this program within the months because the taking pictures about her daughter and what her circle of relatives has been going thru. Kimberly, you must communicate with you once more.

KIMBERLY MATA-RUBIO: Thanks for having me.

SUMMERS: I imply, I’ve to believe that nowadays is a difficult day on most sensible of arduous days for you, your husband, Felix, and your children. And I do know that you just have been at nowadays’s Justice Division briefing. What went thru your thoughts as you heard the main points of the entire disasters that took place that day?

MATA-RUBIO: I believe we because the households, because the frame digicam pictures was once launched, have recognized that there was once a large failure on Would possibly 24, 2022. However listening to the U.S. Lawyer Common say this, now the sector is aware of, too. And no person can disguise from it.

SUMMERS: That is an in depth document, greater than 500 pages all stated. So I take into account that you, the opposite households, have now not had a possibility to learn or digest all the factor. However in what you may have observed, is there anything else this is specifically significant to you?

MATA-RUBIO: One of the most quotes via the officials and the directions now not to enter rooms 111, 112 have been very arduous to learn. I used to be now not mindful that the crime scene was once compromised. That was once one thing I used to be finding out for the primary time. And I’m hoping to get a possibility to learn the document in its entirety in the following few days. So I wish to know extra about that.

SUMMERS: Something that we heard from any other folks nowadays was once that whilst the names of one of the vital regulation enforcement officials who did not act that day have been printed on this document, others weren’t. Why is that essential – naming the ones regulation enforcement officials?

MATA-RUBIO: I believe it is necessary since the group must be acquainted with who was once at fault so they are able to make selections themselves and in order that we will have responsibility. Additionally, my daughter is indexed on this document. She’s indexed as a result of she was once murdered in her fourth grade study room. She misplaced the appropriate to privateness. Why do they have got the appropriate to privateness?

SUMMERS: As you discussed, Lawyer Common Merrick Garland is there in Uvalde, and we heard him previous describing this regulation enforcement reaction as a failure. He additionally spoke to households. What did he say to you and the opposite households?

MATA-RUBIO: He greeted us every in my view sooner than the beginning of the briefing on Wednesday night time. For me, he got here up, and he noticed that I used to be dressed in my Saint Mary’s sweater. And he stated that he spotted that Lexi had her T-shirt on in her mural, and we mentioned her scholarship and her aspirations to be a legal professional in the future. He was once very emotional when he addressed us as a bunch. And I truly admire him coming down and pronouncing what this group had to listen. Legislation enforcement reaction was once a failure.

SUMMERS: Was once there anything else that you just want that Garland or different Justice Division officers there in Uvalde had stated nowadays that they didn’t say?

MATA-RUBIO: No. I additionally preferred that he spoke on, even if it isn’t indexed within the document, the failure via the government to have gun law in position. That is how we were given right here. That is how we proceed to have those incidents happen.

SUMMERS: I imply, now we have conversations, sadly, like this within the wake of shootings all throughout this nation – in film theaters and colleges and cities large and small. What do you hope will occur subsequent now that each one of those main points were made public on this intensive document from the Justice Division?

MATA-RUBIO: I’m hoping on the native degree that there’s responsibility for the people who are at fault. I’m hoping the DA pushes ahead for felony prosecutions. However I additionally hope that this serves as a reminder to different communities and regulation enforcement companies that this may occur to them and that they will have to get ready. And much more than that, I’m hoping that American citizens get up and notice that we would not have to are living this manner and that we will have to be taking a extra proactive reaction.

SUMMERS: Lots of the main points of the misguided police reaction described via Lawyer Common Garland as a failure – they have got already been made public. So I am curious. For you in my view, how does it really feel now that in any case this time, those main points are accounted for in a federal document?

MATA-RUBIO: It is arduous to learn. However, I imply, it is essential. And everyone must be having a look at this document, studying it intimately and following suggestions.

SUMMERS: I wish to ask you – it is been some months since we final spoke. Nowadays needs to be excruciating. How are you and your circle of relatives doing?

MATA-RUBIO: Supporting every different. You realize, the children – they have been in school, and it is industry as standard. And I inform my older ones to not learn the inside track after I know one thing’s popping out to give protection to them. You realize, it’s important to move and listen to all of this knowledge and to do, you realize, media. After which my children get house from faculty, and we are going to rush to Bandera to head see my daughter play basketball. And I need to be provide for them.

SUMMERS: Yeah. While you and I final spoke, you have been operating for mayor of Uvalde. And after we talked, you instructed me then that individuals on your group that you just have been speaking to – as you have been knocking on doorways, they sought after to transport ahead. And also you additionally instructed me that you just felt that individuals had to heal. Nowadays, do you suppose that this accounting of what took place at Robb Fundamental faculty – do you suppose having this all specified by this fashion is helping Uvalde transfer ahead to the type of therapeutic that you just mentioned?

MATA-RUBIO: I believe it is a step in the appropriate path. I believe it’s some solutions that we have had inquiries to. However in the end, the stairs later on and what our native officers do with this knowledge goes to dictate the place we move from right here.

SUMMERS: Kimberly Mata-Rubio, thanks such a lot for speaking with us nowadays.

MATA-RUBIO: Thanks.

(SOUNDBITE OF STORMZY SONG, “FIRE + WATER”)

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