UVALDE, Texas (AP) — A former school police officer involved in the delayed law enforcement response to the tragic 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday. Adrian Gonzales, part of the team that took more than 70 minutes to confront the shooter inside the school, faced charges of failing to take action as 19 children and two teachers lost their lives in a fourth-grade classroom.
During a court session in Uvalde, a city located about 80 miles west of San Antonio with a population of approximately 15,000, grieving family members of the victims watched as Gonzales was formally charged with abandoning and neglecting the children who were killed and injured.
Following the arraignment, Gonzales left the courthouse, met by the stares of the victims’ relatives. Some families have been advocating for over two years for officers to be held accountable, with calls for more individuals to face consequences.
“For only two to be indicted, there should have been more because there was a lot of ranking officers during that day that knew what to do but decided not to. But they only got these two,” expressed Jerry Mata, whose 10-year-old daughter Tess was among the victims.
“We’ll take what we get and we’re just gonna continue fighting for the kids and the two teachers and see it all the way through,” Mata added.
Gonzales and former Uvalde schools police Chief Pete Arredondo were indicted by a grand jury in June. Arredondo waived his arraignment and entered a not guilty plea earlier this month. Both were released on bond following their indictments.
One of Gonzales’ attorneys, Nico LaHood, expressed that his client maintains his innocence and emphasized that such charges against a law enforcement officer are unprecedented.
“He feels all he did was try to show up to help those children,” LaHood stated.
Although justified anger exists, Gonzales’ defense team asserts that it should not be directed at him.
Javier Montemayor, representing Arredondo, conveyed that his client also stands by his innocence.
The May 24, 2022, incident was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The law enforcement response has faced significant scrutiny in state and federal investigations citing failures in training, communication, and leadership.
Gonzales, aged 51, has been charged with 29 counts of abandoning or endangering a child. Arredondo, aged 52, faces 10 counts of the same charges. The indictment alleges that Arredondo failed to identify an active shooter, deviated from his training, and made decisions that impeded the response to stop the perpetrator.
Students inside the classroom called 911 while parents urged officers to intervene. A tactical team eventually entered the classroom and neutralized the shooter.
If convicted, each charge against Gonzales and Arredondo carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail.
This is a rare instance where law enforcement officers are charged for inaction during a school shooting. A similar case involving a sheriff’s deputy in Florida during the Parkland massacre ended in acquittal last year.
Several families of Uvalde victims have pursued legal action against law enforcement, social media platforms, online gaming companies, and the gun manufacturer tied to the weapon used in the shooting.
By NADIA LATHAN and JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press
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