A former Uvalde school police officer involved in the law enforcement response to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School is set to appear in court for the first time on Thursday. Adrian Gonzales, along with former Uvalde schools police Chief Pete Arredondo, was indicted by a Uvalde grand jury in June.
Gonzales, who was among the first officers to arrive at the scene, is facing 29 charges for allegedly failing to confront the shooter despite hearing gunshots. Arredondo, who was the on-site commander that day, is charged with 10 counts of abandoning or endangering a child for decisions that slowed the police response to the active shooter.
The May 22, 2024, attack at Robb Elementary School resulted in the tragic deaths of 19 children and two teachers, making it one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. The police response to the incident has been heavily criticized for what state and federal investigations described as 'cascading failures' in training, communication, and leadership.
If convicted, each charge against Gonzales and Arredondo carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail. This case represents a rare instance of law enforcement officers being charged for allegedly failing to act during an on-campus shooting, with previous cases resulting in varied outcomes.
While some families of the Uvalde victims have called for additional charges against more officers, others have pursued legal action against law enforcement, social media platforms, online gaming companies, and the gun manufacturer linked to the weapon used in the shooting.
The arraignment and legal proceedings for Gonzales and Arredondo are ongoing, with the community closely following the developments as justice is sought for the victims and their families.
