Texas law enforcement authorities on Friday denied claims by a local GOP congressman that the Uvalde elementary school gunman was once arrested years ago for threatening to "shoot up" a school once he turned 18.
Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety said during a press briefing that the allegations by Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales were not correct.
Gonzales claimed during a Fox News interview earlier Friday that he "found out" that the 18-year-old gunman who slaughtered 19 children and two teachers at Uvalde's Robb Elementary School on Tuesday was arrested four years ago "for having this plan, for basically saying, you know, 'when I'm a senior in 2022, I am going to shoot up a school.'"
"And this was four years ago, they apprehended him," Gonzales said. "So something fell between the cracks between then and now to allow this to happen."
He continued, "We need to shake out all the facts."
Authorities have previously said that the shooter — described as an unemployed high school drop-out — had no known criminal history.
Though, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said during a press briefing on Wednesday that the gunman may have had a juvenile record, "but that is yet to be determined."
The gunman on Tuesday carried out the most deadly US school shooting in a decade.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.