Two years after the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history and the same week that the small Texas city's police chief is scheduled to retire, Uvalde Mayor Cody Smith resigned effective Monday and vacated his position.
Smith said in a statement that she needs to take care of her health and thanked the Uvalde community for their support as she recovers from recent “unforeseen health issues,” but did not provide further details. Ta.
The decision comes after an independent report commissioned by the city found that local police officers' actions reflected a failed response by nearly 400 local, state and federal law enforcement officers to the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School, which left 21 people dead. This took place a few weeks after he defended the.
Uvalde City Council members are scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon and may discuss the report in closed session. The meeting was postponed last week after officials cited concerns about the mayor's health.
Smith's announcement comes after a city report found no wrongdoing by local police officers who waited more than an hour to confront a teenage gunman armed with an AR-15-style weapon. This follows the recent announcement that Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez will resign effective April 6. .
Rodriguez, who was on leave following the Robb Elementary School shooting, said in his resignation letter last month that it was time for a new chapter in his career. He did not mention the mass shooting.
The controversial report was written by Jesse Prado, an Austin-based private investigator and former police detective, according to City Council records. He said he received $97,000 for the independent investigation.
The city of Prado announced the report's findings at a special council meeting last month, sparking an outpouring of anger from the victims' families and local residents.
