Uvalde Mayor McLaughlin accuses D.A. Christina Mitchell of being involved in a “cover-up”; Mitchell issues her response.

 Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian 

Top picture credit: City of Uvalde

  City of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin released a statement earlier today accusing the 38th District Attorney  Christina Mitchell of being involved in a cover-up regarding the City’s investigation into the Robb School tragedy.

 Upon the release of the statement which appeared on Twitter and Facebook social media platforms about 12 Noon on Wednesday, August 30th, the Uvalde Hesperian reached out to McLaughlin to verify the statement was issued by him. 

 According to the statement issued by McLaughlin, it reads:  “The City hired Mr. Jesse Prado of JPPI on July 30th, 2022, approximately two months after the shooting with regard to the actions of Uvalde Police Department personnel. Since then, D.A. Christina Mitchell has refused to cooperate with Mr. Prado and the City resulting in the City filing a lawsuit against her in her official capacity in order to obtain the necessary information for Mr. Prado to complete the City’s administrative investigation.” 

“The City had to file suit a second time, because D.A Christina Mitchell continues to block the City’s investigation. We believe she is doing so, because her Chief Investigator Shayne Gilliland was onsite on May 24th at Robb School and this taints her entire inquiry into any possible criminal conduct by law enforcement,” McLaughlin’s statement read.

“Christina Mitchell should resign immediately,” McLaughlin said in the statement.

The Uvalde Hesperian reached out to 38th D.A. Christina Mitchell asking if she would like to respond to Mayor Don McLaughlin’s statement. She provided the following statement:

“If you read the lawsuit, it is clear that I have provided a great deal information to the city to conduct their internal investigation.  All the other law enforcement agencies have conducted their internal investigations without one piece of information from my office.  It is unfortunate that the city has not utilized the information I have provided to them to conduct their internal investigation. 

Disparaging elected leaders in our community serves no legitimate purpose.”- 38th D.A. Christina Mitchell

JPPI Investigations: Jesse Prado

“Jesse Prado is the Owner/Investigator of JPPI Investigations. He is a decorated, honorably retired, Austin Police Detective with over 25 years of dedicated service to the Austin Metro Area. Detective Prado spent his first 3 years on patrol in East Austin and was then transferred to the prestigious Organized Crime Division where he served over 21 years in a covert/undercover unit. Due to the magnitude of his investigations most of his cases were prosecuted in Federal Court,” – From the JPPI Investigations website.