Jury Returns Not Guilty Verdict After Lengthy Deliberations Jurors in Corpus Christi deliberated for more than seven hours before finding former Uvalde police officer Adrian Gonzales not guilty on 29 counts of child abandonment and endangerment tied to the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting [1]. The acquittal marks the first criminal trial addressing the law‑enforcement response to the massacre [1]. Prosecutors had argued Gonzales abandoned his training and duty, but the jury concluded the evidence did not meet the criminal threshold [1]. The decision closes this particular chapter of the investigation while leaving broader accountability questions unresolved [1].

Potential Prison Term Eliminated, Other Cases Remain Open Had he been convicted, Gonzales faced up to two years in prison for the combined charges [1]. His acquittal removes that possible sentence but does not affect other pending prosecutions related to the Uvalde response [1]. Former Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo remains the only other officer charged, and his trial date has not yet been set [1]. Defense attorneys continue to argue that the officers have been unfairly vilified despite the chaotic circumstances [1].

Victims’ Families React Emotionally While Officer Shows Gratitude Several families of the 21 victims attended the courtroom, many visibly upset as they watched the verdict unfold [1]. Gonzales hugged his lawyers, fought back tears, and thanked the jury without addressing the families directly [1]. One relative described the community’s faith as fractured yet resilient, urging continued accountability for the overall response [1]. The emotional testimony from teachers and survivors underscored the lasting trauma of the attack [1].

Prosecutors’ Abuse Claims Clash With Defense’s Vilification Argument Prosecutors contended that Gonzales abandoned his training, effectively endangering children during the shooting [1]. The defense countered that the officers acted within the limits of their training and were scapegoated by public outrage [1]. The trial highlighted the difficulty of proving criminal liability for police actions in chaotic, high‑stakes incidents [1]. Observers note that the verdict may influence how future law‑enforcement accountability cases are pursued [1].