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

Jacob Albarado was in his barber's chair when each men received textual content messages in regards to the capturing unfolding at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Texas, final week. "There's an energetic shooter. Assist. Love you," Albarado's spouse Trisha said in three messages at 11:41 a.m.

She's a fourth grade instructor on the faculty, and their daughter is a pupil there.

"I asked my barber if he had a gun," Albarado, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, informed CBS News on Wednesday. He had attended an awards ceremony at the college earlier that morning and was off duty, together with his weapon at residence.

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

"Youngsters are popping out the home windows," he said.

With folks fleeing to a funeral house across the street, Albarado mentioned he wanted to get inside the varsity as quick as he may.

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

His spouse let him know she made it to the funeral dwelling, however she instructed him their daughter was locked in a school restroom.

"I did not know what restroom," Albarado said.

He ultimately discovered his daughter was in a restroom located inside her classroom. Albarado met up with two officers near the classroom.

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

The officers began opening classroom doors, and Albarado said he guided folks to security.

"First classroom, second classroom, third classroom, saw my daughter," Albarado said. "Aid. Big reduction."

He hugged and kissed her, and soon she was heading to the college parking lot.

Whereas Border Patrol agents had been on the team that breached the classroom where the gunman was holed up, Albarado wasn't in that group.

"I didn't have my gear, and so it would not have been a smart move for me to get into the building," he said. "I didn't have my vest. A shotgun's not a ok defense."

During a press conference final week, the pinnacle of the Texas Department of Public Security mentioned the college district's police chief didn't initially send officers into the classroom where the gunman was situated as a result of he thought it was now not an active-shooter state of affairs. The U.S. Justice Department is conducting a assessment of the police response.

For his half, Albarado mentioned he wasn't able to assess the response.

"I do know my fellow officers," he stated, "and … to me, heart of hearts, I believe they have been doing the whole lot in their energy they may do."

Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com