UVALDE, Texas — As the Uvalde community marks two years since the tragedy at Robb Elementary, the father of one of the children who died in the shooting is honoring his memory while continuing to advocate for change and accountability.
Brett Cross, father of Uziyah Garcia, is one of the most outspoken family members pushing for change. After a Department of Justice report and City of Uvalde-commissioned review and other investigations, Cross says he is not surprised by what he calls inaction on the part of local, state and national authorities to create substantial change.
Soon after the shooting, it was revealed the gunman was in the school for 77 minutes before he was confronted and killed by law enforcement.
Earlier this year, Cross camped out and protested outside Uvalde Police headquarters for nearly a week. He called for the removal of certain officer who responded to the shooting. The sit-out came after officers were exonerated through the city's review into the shooting conducted by an Austin-based investigator. That report sparked immense backlash by victims' families.
On Wednesday, 19 of the Robb victims' families announced they reached a $2 million settlement with the City of Uvalde.
KENS 5 recently caught up with Cross to see how he is feeling two years after the shooting.
"Trying to hold it together, which is something we have to do every day. I still have 6 kids that deserve to have a better world in front of them," Cross said.
On the eve of the two-year mark, Cross posted on Twitter/X a tribute to Uziyah or "Uzi." In it, he recounts the cherished memory of his son's final words to him.
"The thought never crossed my mind that that would be the last time I would see him alive. A little over 12 hours before he was murdered," he said in the post.
The post has thousands of shares and comments of support as he deals with this difficult day.