During 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 both males got text messages concerning the shooting unfolding at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Texas, final week. "There's an active shooter. Help. Love you," Albarado's spouse Trisha mentioned in three messages at 11:41 a.m.

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

"I requested my barber if he had a gun," Albarado, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, instructed CBS News on Wednesday. He had attended an awards ceremony on the school earlier that morning and was off duty, along with his weapon at house.

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

"Children are coming out the windows," he mentioned.

With individuals fleeing to a funeral dwelling across the street, Albarado said he wished to get inside the college as fast as he may.

"I was acting as a husband and a father," he said.

His wife let him know she made it to the funeral house, but she advised him their daughter was locked in a college restroom.

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

He finally realized his daughter was in a restroom situated inside her classroom. Albarado met up with two officers near the classroom.

"We have to get the youngsters out of right here," Albarado stated 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 mentioned he guided individuals to security.

"First classroom, second classroom, third classroom, saw my daughter," Albarado mentioned. "Reduction. Huge aid."

He hugged and kissed her, and shortly she was heading to the school parking zone.

Whereas Border Patrol agents had been on the group that breached the classroom the place 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 did not have my vest. A shotgun's not a good enough defense."

During a press conference final week, the top of the Texas Division of Public Safety mentioned the varsity district's police chief didn't initially ship officers into the classroom the place the gunman was located because he thought it was now not an active-shooter state of affairs. The U.S. Justice Department is conducting a evaluate of the police response.

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

"I do know my fellow officers," he mentioned, "and … to me, coronary heart of hearts, I imagine they have been doing all the pieces in their power they may do."

Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com