Senator calls for investigation after video shows DPS officer shoving parent of Uvalde shooting victim

Confrontation happened when parent wanted to take her son to attend protest against gun violence

UVALDE, TexasDisclaimer: The video of the confrontation contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.

A state senator from San Antonio is calling for an investigation after a Texas Department of Public Safety officer was caught on camera shoving the mother of one of the Uvalde school shooting victims.

The incident happened Wednesday afternoon at Flores Elementary School in Uvalde.

Ana Rodriguez, whose daughter Maite Rodriguez was among 19 students and two teachers killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School last year, tried to check out her son to attend a protest against gun violence.

The protest was part of National School Walkout Day, and students in Uvalde joined in the nationwide movement to demand action against gun violence.

Uvalde CISD was aware of the planned walkouts and intended to allow students to participate. However, parents at Flores Elementary said students weren’t allowed to leave or they could face repercussions, including a possible three-day suspension.

Parents also told KSAT that school administrators were keeping the kids inside the auditorium and gym.

In the video, Ana Rodriguez is seen knocking on the door of the elementary school and showing her ID, as part of the protocol, before going inside.

When she steps foot in the building, the video shows that she is immediately confronted by a DPS trooper, whose name hasn’t been released.

“I have my ID and I’m gonna get my kid out,” Ana said.

The DPS trooper is seen grabbing Ana and turning her around, forcibly pushing her toward the exit.

“I’ve already told her, she’s going to be under arrest if she continues...” the trooper said in the video.

Eventually, the trooper pulls away and she is let into the building to retrieve her son.

Before the exchange is over, the trooper said, “My camera is on,” before closing the school door.

Ana now has bruises on her arm from the confrontation, but she was able to get her son out of school.

“When your daughter is murdered on school grounds, then you talk to me sir,” she said.

Sen. Roland Gutierrez is now calling for a full investigation into the incident and is requesting bodycam footage.

“The way that these grieving parents have been treated by the people that failed them is totally unfair,” Sen. Gutierrez said in a news release.

You can watch more of the confrontation below. Warning -- there is explicit language.

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About the Authors:

Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois.

Leigh Waldman is a news reporter at KSAT 12. She joined the station in 2021. Leigh comes to San Antonio from the Midwest after spending time at a station in Omaha, NE. After two winters there, she knew it was time to come home to Texas. When Leigh is not at work, she enjoys eating, playing with her dogs and spending time with family.