A former police officer in Uvalde, Texas, Adrian Gonzales, has been found not guilty on charges related to his actions during the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in May 2022. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers.
Gonzales was accused of 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment. These charges were connected to his response during the shooting. Some charges related to children who died, and others related to those who survived. He had pleaded not guilty.
The incident at Robb Elementary was marked by a delay in confronting the shooter, Salvador Ramos. About 77 minutes passed between the time officers arrived and when Ramos was killed.
Gonzales, along with the former police chief Pete Arredondo, were among the first to arrive at the scene. Gonzales had training in SWAT tactics and was the instructor for active shooter training for the school district’s police.
A report from the Justice Department found that many officers from different agencies responded to the school. The report also pointed out “failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy, and training” that made the response less effective.
In Texas, child endangerment is a serious crime. A conviction could have led to a jail sentence for Gonzales.
The District Attorney, Christina Mitchell, emphasized the importance of holding officers responsible, given the potential for similar events elsewhere.
After about seven hours of deliberation, the jury delivered a not-guilty verdict on all counts. During the trial, the prosecution presented many witnesses, while the defense presented only a few.
Arredondo, the former police chief, also faces similar charges and has pleaded not guilty. His case is currently delayed because of a federal lawsuit related to interviews with Border Patrol agents involved in the response.
After the verdict, Gonzales thanked God, his family, and his lawyers. He also thanked the jury for their decision. When asked about the victims’ families, he said he had nothing to say “right now.”
