'Cowards': Teacher who survived Uvalde shooting slams police response, will 'never forgive them'

Arnulfo Reyes woke up ready for a good day. His third- and fourth-grade class at Robb Elementary had finished its final tests the week before. Awards were going to be handed out. He planned to show his students a movie, "The Addams Family" -- the animated version.

"It was going to be a good day," Reyes told ABC News anchor Amy Robach in an exclusive interview. "There was nothing unusual that day, we were just walking back to the classroom ... to watch the rest of the movie."

Around 11:30 a.m., however, the normalcy shattered. Reyes said he heard a bang. Unsure of what it was, he told the students to get under their desks -- just like they'd practiced.

"The kids were yelling, 'What's going on, Mr. Reyes?'" he said. "[The students] were going under the table, and I was trying to get them to do that as fast as I could."
#texas #uvalde #massshooting #texasshooting

[MightyRob]

As retired Army I just CAN'T BELIEVE that NINETEEN officers could not breach a room and engage a single target. This is a failure of both training and courage.

[moobiegrows]

When he says, “you had a bullet proof vest, I had nothing” my heart sank! I served in the Army and there’s no way I would’ve retreated. Those police were cowards!! Poorly trained cowards! Then the Chief resigns because he doesn’t want to answer to his mistakes. This whole situation is one huge nightmare and I offer my sincere condolences to the Uvalde community! I’m sorry this happened to y’all.

[RummerChan]

When he mentioned that each parent lost a child, but he lost 11 that day... couldn't hold back the tears. What a horrifying experience that could have been prevented.

[geoffpatch]

I'm an ex infantryman. In these circumstances, you march to the sound of the guns and do what needs to be done. If it costs your life, then you have done your duty and died with honour. Far better to die with honour than live in shame and disgrace.

Those who didn't march to the sound of the guns that day are eternally damned.

[larryb]

I was a cop for 40 years and because of the Columbine school shooting my department changed the way we handle active shooters from first units on scene setting up a perimeter to first units on scene forming an entry team. I felt so bad when I heard this teacher say the cops have bullet proof vests and we had nothing and they did nothing. Boy was he right. They handled it in the worst way possible.

[detroitvlogs]

This man is 100% correct. Sickening how they didn't go in and protect kids. Cowards is an understatement

[edhill]

This broke my heart..the poor teacher begging for forgiveness for what? He did everything he could and took what 3 bullets? This is heart breaking. The cops did less then this teacher who should get a medal for his heroism.

[blueog]

That hurt really bad as a father. I see his side when he says, "this family lost 1, this family lost 1, I lost 11 that day" so true teachers are the second parents of our kids, giving advice and helping with homework or whatever they need help with. I had teachers that I considered more of a parent than my actual parents will ever be. 😣

[ashleylognion]

He is SO strong, he will never be the same. The cops let everyone down that day.

[lostintheclouds]

The one statement he made, “they had bulletproof vests, I had nothing” - how do the cops answer to that one?

[codyray]

The fact that this man is asking for forgiveness when did absolutely nothing wrong proves he’s a good man and the fact that law enforcement acts like they handled this situation perfectly says more than enough

[haileazesleeps]

he knew each of them personally, he wrote out their awards, he read their work, he talked to each one, he taught them knowledge, he gave them fun activities, he woke up everyday and saw their smiling faces. He stayed up making lesson plans for them. Now he will go to sleep every night remembering the horrific scene of each one of them dead on his classroom floor while officers listened from the outside 😔

[kathyohara]

The young mother who ran into the school and rescued her two children and another child is upset that she is being harrassed by police now. The disgrace has not ended yet.

[AB-mrdy]

It's really sickening when you watch the security camera of the police officers in full-body gear just crouching in the corner of the hallway for an hour and a half. I honestly have never seen such cowardice in my life.

[bellar]

My God. He lost all of his students. That's so horrible. I don't blame him for not being able to enter a classroom after this. He did everything he could.

[niranwashere]

Notice how he describes them as “his kids” many people fail to realise how emotionally attached many teachers become to their students, he clearly cared about them deeply.

[markflour]

Cops can't use the "I was just following orders' defense. Too many kids died while they waited. It's insane. That teacher is not even out of the hospital yet he's telling his story and trying to help (unlike the cowardly cops who failed to act). Things must change.

[thumper]

I worry about this man and the guilt he’s carrying. I pray he receives long term help and doesn’t become another life lost from this horrific situation.

[nostradamus]

I'm so sorry for him! How could the police wait outside while the children were being massacred? How could they? Completely unforgivable!

[joints]

“I’m gonna act like I’m asleep too while you guys pretend to be asleep”

Props to him for trying to be as calm as he can and keep others calm… that’s something most people couldn’t do.

This is heartbreaking.