UVALDE, Texas — A CNN report identified a former Texas Department of Public Safety trooper whose employment with the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District had parents fuming. Crimson Elizondo was identified as one of the first responding officers out of 91 within two minutes of the May 24 Robb Elementary mass shooting.

As of Thursday, Elizondo has been fired from her position with the school district. 

UCISD provided a statement regarding her termination: 

"We are deeply distressed by the information that was disclosed yesterday evening concerning one of our recently hired employees, Crimson Elizondo. We sincerely apologize to the victim’s families and the greater Uvalde community for the pain that this revelation has caused.

"Ms. Elizondo’s statement in the audio is not consistent with the District's expectations.  Effective today (October 6), Crimson Elizondo has been terminated from her position with the Uvalde CISD. 

"Regarding the remaining UCISD Police Department employees, we continue to make personnel decisions based on verifiable information. An independent investigation is underway to evaluate the actions of the current officers on May 24, 2022.  Additionally, we are awaiting results of a management and organizational review of the UCISD Police Department that will aid the district in taking informed actions to further ensure the safety and security of our schools.

"This is all the information we have at this time.  We will provide update(s) as information becomes available to us."

According to CNN, Elizondo was one of the 376 members of law enforcement who went to the school, where 77 minutes passed before the shooter was stopped. She can be seen in her Texas DPS uniform with a handgun, outside of the school, and afterwards in the hallway in sight of another officer’s body cam.

Post-events surrounding the massacre that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers have angered many in the community, city leaders calling the response an “abject failure.” Uvalde pushed for consequences to follow as law enforcement agencies’ lack of initiative cost the lives of their children.

The district removed the school police chief of his duties and seven DPS troopers are under investigation, Elizondo included — according to CNN and its source. Being that she didn’t work for DPS any longer, she found a new job over the summer with UCISD as a police officer. To parents, this discovery was tragic irony, given that she’s to protect the same kids who survived the shooting.

CNN said Elizondo refused all of its communication efforts. It's unclear if UCISD knew about her pending investigation. 

When Texas state Sen. Roland Guitierrez got wind of this CNN report, he made the following statement: “DPS and whoever allowed this officer to be put on the payroll and stationed in our schools just slapped this community in the face. There is a callous disregard within Abbott’s government for the families of the victims, the students who survived, and for an entire community still in mourning.”

The school district wanted to bring 10 more officers on board post-attack. Although Elizondo’s photo, along with four other officers, one lieutenant and one security guard, are on its website, under the banner “KEEP U.C.I.S.D. SAFE,” there was no specific announcement about her employment with them, reports CNN.

According to CNN, Superintendent Hal Harrell announced at an August town hall meeting that at least 33 DPS officers would be deployed as well around the district’s eight schools. Residents pushed back with concern about the district assigning school security to DPS officers who failed to stop the fatal event. CNN cites parent Brett Cross, the legal guardian of Uziyah Garcia who died on May 24, in stating he was assured that no responding officers from the shooting would be used.

It was Uvalde parents who came across the video footage after her hire and realized who she was. Family members who spoke to CNN said while taking their little ones to Uvalde Elementary, they’ve walked past her and she looked familiar — some parents recalling that she was in the footage released by Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin.

In a CNN quote, family representatives stated, “We are disgusted and angry at Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s (UCISD) decision to hire Officer Crimson Elizondo. Her hiring puts into question the credibility and thoroughness of UCISD’s HR and vetting practices.”

Cross expressed to CNN his “disgust” with the district’s actions, telling Anderson Cooper that he’s met with the school board and they offered to put such officers in off-campus roles. He said he will hold a vigil outside of the school board offices every day until the officers are fired, according to CNN.

DPS director Col. Steven McCraw admitted to law enforcement's poor response. In August, he said “Every one of our officers will undergo scrutiny by the DA and an internal investigation — just because they didn’t violate the law, doesn’t mean they acted appropriately based on our policy.”

Gutierrez is calling for McCraw to honor his word in that he’d resign if DPS was found to be at fault. 

“A DPS trooper was on scene within two minutes of the shooter and failed to follow training, protocol, and the duty they were sworn to. People’s children died because DPS officials failed to do their job. This isn’t just the failure of one law enforcement officer, it is the failure of the Texas government and the buck stops with Governor Greg Abbott,” said Guitierrez.

CNN got a hold of a redacted internal memo to the organization’s director, in which DPS cited “actions which may be inconsistent with training and requirements” as the reason for the officers’ investigation."

CNN sources said Elizondo was not in line with required gear standards and she told investigators that she did not feel comfortable entering the high stakes situation without it.

“If DPS had any intention of holding anyone accountable, officers under investigation would not be able to resign in disgrace and quickly find new work in law enforcement – particularly in the very community they failed. But we don’t need an DPS investigation to know this: 91 DPS troopers idled at Robb Elementary while 19 children and two teachers were killed and others lay injured and scared. And Abbott and McCraw have done nothing to prevent the next massacre. Uvalde families are done with excuses.”

Gutierrez was with Uvalde families Wednesday to address safeguarding children from gun violence.