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

Jacob Albarado was in his barber's chair when each men got text messages about the shooting unfolding at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Texas, final week. "There's an active shooter. Help. Love you," Albarado's spouse Trisha said in three messages at 11:41 a.m.

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

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

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

"Youngsters are popping out the windows," he stated.

With individuals fleeing to a funeral house across the street, Albarado said he wished to get inside the varsity as fast as he could.

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

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

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

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

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

The officers began opening classroom doors, and Albarado said he guided individuals to safety.

"First classroom, second classroom, third classroom, noticed my daughter," Albarado mentioned. "Aid. Massive relief."

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

While Border Patrol agents were on the crew 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 constructing," he stated. "I didn't have my vest. A shotgun's not a ok defense."

During a press convention last week, the pinnacle of the Texas Division of Public Safety stated the varsity district's police chief did not initially ship officers into the classroom the place the gunman was positioned as a result of he thought it was now not an active-shooter scenario. The U.S. Justice Division is conducting a evaluate of the police response.

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

"I know my fellow officers," he stated, "and … to me, heart of hearts, I believe they have been doing every part in their power they may do."

Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com