Two former Uvalde school police officers have been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the botched law enforcement response to the tragic 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary school. The incident resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers. Former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales are facing criminal charges, marking the first legal action taken in relation to the school massacre.
Arredondo turned himself in to the Texas Rangers in Uvalde and was booked on 10 counts of child endangerment and criminal negligence. He was later released on bond. The specific details of the indictments have not been made public by the Uvalde County District Court clerk's office.
The Uvalde Police Department stated that they have not been contacted by the District Attorney's Office regarding any of their staff members and refrained from commenting on the matter at this time.
According to Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell, Arredondo and Gonzales are facing felony charges of abandoning and endangering a child. Family members of the victims have been meeting with the DA's office to discuss the outcomes of the grand jury investigation.
The US Justice Department released a report earlier this year criticizing the law enforcement response to the shooting, highlighting critical failures in leadership among specific officers. The report indicated that there were missed opportunities to intervene and stop the bloodshed sooner.
In response to the report, Arredondo was fired in August 2022, and his successor, Joshua Gutierrez, resigned in May. State Senator Roland Gutierrez expressed his belief that the Texas Department of Public Safety should also be held accountable for the failed response.
The Justice Department's report highlighted various issues that arose during and after the shooting, including delays in providing assistance to students and families, as well as challenges in communicating accurate information to the public.
In May, families of the victims settled a lawsuit with the city for $2 million and announced plans to sue 92 officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the school district, and individual employees. The settlement marked a step towards seeking justice for the tragic events that unfolded at Robb Elementary school.
