Jury Finds Former Uvalde Officer Not Guilty After Seven‑Hour Deliberation
Updated (21 articles)
Acquittal Ends First Criminal Trial Over Uvalde Response Jurors in Corpus Christi found Officer Adrian Gonzales not guilty on all 29 child‑endangerment and abandonment counts tied to the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting, after more than seven hours of deliberation [1][2][3][4][5]. The verdict marks the inaugural criminal case against a responder for actions during an active‑shooter event [1][5]. Gonzales faced up to two years in prison per count, but the jury concluded the prosecution had not met the burden of proof [3][5].
Shooting Context Highlights Scale of Police Deployment The attack killed 19 students and two teachers while injuring ten others, prompting roughly 370 officers to converge on the school [1][3][4][5]. Federal review notes it took about 77 minutes before a tactical team entered the classroom where the gunman was located [1][5]. The prolonged response has become a focal point for national debates on law‑enforcement tactics in mass‑casualty incidents [1][4].
Legal Landscape Features DOJ Findings and Ongoing Charges 2024 Department of Justice investigation criticized the initial response as lacking urgency and suffering leadership failures [1]. Victims’ families settled a $2 million claim with the city of Uvalde in 2024, reflecting continued accountability efforts [1]. Former Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo remains charged in a separate case, with his trial date still pending [2][3][4][5].
Reactions Reveal Emotional Toll and Public Backlash Families attended the trial, some breaking down in tears as testimony from surviving teachers unfolded [2][3][5]. After the verdict, social‑media users, gun‑violence advocates, and journalists expressed frustration and grief, questioning broader police accountability [2]. Gonzales lowered his head and later hugged his lawyers, underscoring the personal impact of the high‑profile case [2][5].
Sources (5 articles)
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[1]
BBC: Texas jury clears officer over Uvalde shooting response: reports the not‑guilty verdict on 29 counts, details the 77‑minute response delay and cites the 2024 DOJ report and 2024 settlement .
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[2]
Newsweek: Ex-Uvalde officer found not guilty sparks online backlash: highlights the acquittal, the trial’s significance for officer liability, and the ensuing social‑media outrage, noting Arredondo’s separate charges .
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[3]
WBNS: Former Uvalde officer acquitted in trial over police response to Robb Elementary attack: emphasizes the defense’s claim Gonzales arrived amid chaos, the emotional courtroom atmosphere, and the broader context of 19 student deaths and 370 officers .
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[4]
King5: Former Uvalde officer acquitted in trial over police response to Robb Elementary attack: mirrors the acquittal details, stresses the duty‑to‑act argument, and reiterates the pending Arredondo case and response timeline .
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[5]
AP: Ex-officer acquitted in trial over police response to 2022 mass shooting at Texas school: provides a comprehensive overview of the verdict, jurors’ deliberation length, victims’ families’ reactions, and the unresolved prosecution of Arredondo .
Stories about this story (17 stories)
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BBC: Texas jury clears officer over Uvalde shooting response
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Newsweek: Ex-Uvalde officer found not guilty sparks online backlash
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Former Uvalde Officer Adrian Gonzales Acquitted of Child Endangerment Charges (3 articles)
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Ex-Uvalde Officer Acquitted After Jury Finds No Criminal Liability (2 articles)
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AP: Testimony ends in Uvalde officer trial as case heads to jury
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CNN: Prosecution rests case against former Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales
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CNN: Flores testimony places officer at scene as Uvalde shooter attacked; 77-minute massacre left 19 students and 2 teachers dead
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CNN: Gonzales tells investigators 'That was my mistake' in postshooting interview as Uvalde trial unfolds
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CNN: Uvalde teacher testifies about gunman encounter as officer's trial proceeds
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AP: Uvalde survivor testifies in trial of officer Gonzales
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AP: Uvalde police officer's trial enters second week as prosecutors press inaction case
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Uvalde Officer's Trial Advances as Judge Rejects Mistrial Request (2 articles)
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AP: Families sob as trial opens for former Uvalde school officer accused of waiting outside during massacre
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CNN: Judge pauses testimony in Uvalde trial after defense says prosecutors withheld evidence
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AP: Prosecutor says Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales stood by as shooting began; trial opens in Corpus Christi
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CNN: Uvalde officer arrives before shooter enters Robb Elementary, CNN analysis shows
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AP: Trial set to begin for former Uvalde officer charged in delayed response
All related articles (21 articles)
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BBC: Texas jury clears officer over Uvalde shooting response
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Newsweek: Ex-Uvalde officer found not guilty sparks online backlash
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Former Uvalde officer acquitted in trial over police response to Robb Elementary attack
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Former Uvalde officer acquitted in trial over police response to Robb Elementary attack
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AP: Ex-officer acquitted in trial over police response to 2022 mass shooting at Texas school
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CNN: Jury clears former Uvalde police officer of child endangerment or abandonment charges
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AP: Testimony ends in Uvalde officer trial as case heads to jury
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CNN: Prosecution rests case against former Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales
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CNN: Flores testimony places officer at scene as Uvalde shooter attacked; 77-minute massacre left 19 students and 2 teachers dead
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CNN: Gonzales tells investigators 'That was my mistake' in postshooting interview as Uvalde trial unfolds
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CNN: Uvalde teacher testifies about gunman encounter as officer's trial proceeds
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AP: Uvalde survivor testifies in trial of officer Gonzales
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AP: Uvalde police officer's trial enters second week as prosecutors press inaction case
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Judge denies mistrial; trial of Uvalde officer Adrian Gonzales moves forward in Corpus Christi
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Trial proceeds for Uvalde school officer after judge denies mistrial over disputed witness disclosure
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AP: Families sob as trial opens for former Uvalde school officer accused of waiting outside during massacre
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CNN: Judge pauses testimony in Uvalde trial after defense says prosecutors withheld evidence
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AP: Prosecutor says Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales stood by as shooting began; trial opens in Corpus Christi
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AP: Jury seated in trial of former Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales over slow 2022 response
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CNN: Uvalde officer arrives before shooter enters Robb Elementary, CNN analysis shows
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AP: Trial set to begin for former Uvalde officer charged in delayed response