Former Uvalde school police officer, Adrian Gonzales, pleaded not guilty to charges of abandoning and failing to protect children during the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas. He and former school police Chief Pete Arredondo were indicted following the incident, where 19 children and two teachers were killed. Gonzales was among the first officers to arrive at the scene but waited over 70 minutes to confront the shooter, leading to criticism of the law enforcement response.
Some victims’ families have been pushing for more officers to be charged, but only Gonzales and Arredondo were indicted. Both have entered not guilty pleas. The attack, which occurred in May 2024, was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Investigations have revealed failures in training, communication, and leadership among officers during the incident.
Gonzales, 51, is facing 29 charges for allegedly abandoning his training and not confronting the shooter. Arredondo, 53, is accused of endangering children by failing to identify the active shooter and delaying the police response. Despite pleas from terrified students and parents, officers initially waited outside the building during the attack.
This case is rare in the U.S., where law enforcement officers are rarely charged for failing to act during on-campus shootings. The families of victims have also filed lawsuits against law enforcement, social media, online gaming companies, and the gun manufacturer involved in the incident. The legal proceedings are ongoing as the community continues to seek justice for the victims and their families.
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