During the Uvalde taking pictures, an off-duty federal agent’s wife texted him for assist. “I requested my barber if he had a gun,” he mentioned.

Jacob Albarado was in his barber's chair when both males bought text messages concerning the capturing unfolding at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Texas, final week. "There's an lively shooter. Assist. Love you," Albarado's wife Trisha said in three messages at 11:41 a.m.

She's a fourth grade instructor at the college, and their daughter is a student there.

"I requested my barber if he had a gun," Albarado, a U.S. Customs and Border Safety agent, advised CBS Information on Wednesday. He had attended an awards ceremony at the college earlier that morning and was off duty, together with his weapon at house.

The barber did have a gun. Albarado took it, a shotgun, and they rushed to the chaotic scene. Police officers have been already there, and Albarado began serving to.

"Youngsters are coming out the home windows," he mentioned.

With individuals fleeing to a funeral residence across the street, Albarado mentioned he needed to get inside the college as quick as he could.

"I used to be appearing as a husband and a father," he stated.

His wife let him know she made it to the funeral residence, however she informed him their daughter was locked in a college restroom.

"I didn't know what restroom," Albarado mentioned.

He eventually learned his daughter was in a restroom situated inside her classroom. Albarado met up with two officers close to the classroom.

"We need to get the kids out of here," Albarado said he told the officers. "… The shooter's over there. We need to get the kids out. This is our time."

The officers started opening classroom doorways, and Albarado said he guided folks to security.

"First classroom, second classroom, third classroom, noticed my daughter," Albarado stated. "Reduction. Massive aid."

He hugged and kissed her, and soon she was heading to the varsity parking zone.

Whereas Border Patrol brokers were on the group that breached the classroom where the gunman was holed up, Albarado wasn't in that group.

"I did not have my gear, and so it wouldn't have been a smart decision for me to get into the building," he stated. "I didn't have my vest. A shotgun's not a adequate protection."

During a press conference last week, the top of the Texas Department of Public Security mentioned the school district's police chief didn't initially ship officers into the classroom where the gunman was situated as a result of he thought it was no longer an active-shooter scenario. The U.S. Justice Department is conducting a assessment of the police response.

For his part, Albarado said he wasn't ready to evaluate the response.

"I do know my fellow officers," he said, "and … to me, heart of hearts, I imagine they had been doing all the things in their power they could do."

Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com