Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunman

June 10 (UPI) -- Editor's note: This story contains explicit language.

Only a locked classroom door stood between Pete Arredondo and a chance to bring down the gunman. It was sturdily built with a steel jamb, impossible to kick in.

He wanted a key. One goddamn key and he could get through that door to the kids and the teachers. The killer was armed with an AR-15. Arredondo thought he could shoot the gunman himself or at least draw fire while another officer shot back. Without body armor, he assumed he might die.

"The only thing that was important to me at this time was to save as many teachers and children as possible," Arredondo said.

Police fatally shoot man believed to have been attempting to enter Alabama school