Flowers, toys, and other objects are seen at a memorial for the victims of the deadliest U.S. school shooting in nearly a decade resulting in the death of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, U.S. May 29, 2022.
Flowers, toys, and other objects are seen at a memorial for the victims of the deadliest U.S. school shooting in nearly a decade resulting in the death of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, U.S. May 29, 2022. Reuters / VERONICA CARDENAS

The U.S. Justice Department will review the law-enforcement response to a gunman's killing of 19 pupils and two teachers on May 24 at a school in Uvalde, Texas, and make its findings public, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Wednesday.

The "critical incident review" is prompted by growing anger over a police failure to swiftly confront the gunman.

The 18-year-old shooter was allowed to remain in a classroom at Robb Elementary School for nearly an hour while officers waited in a school hallway and children in class made panicked phone calls for help.

A U.S. Border Patrol-led tactical team ultimately burst into the classroom and killed the gunman.

Garland said the team, which includes officials who have reviewed past mass shootings, will visit the school and interview local officials. Those local officials have promised to cooperate, he said.

"Nothing that these folks can do, can undo the terrible tragedy that occurred and that we are just heartbroken about, but we can assess what happened and we can make recommendations for the future," Garland told reporters at the beginning of a closed-door meeting of the group.

Texas state and county authorities say they are conducting their own inquiry.