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Texas Jury Acquits Former Officer in Uvalde Shooting Response Case

Updated (23 articles)

Jurors Acquit Former Officer on All 29 Charges A Texas jury found Officer Adrian Gonzales not guilty on all 29 child‑endangerment and abandonment counts tied to the 2022 Robb Elementary attack, ending the first criminal trial of a responder to a mass‑shooting [1][2][3][4][5]. The verdict, read in a Corpus Christi courtroom, came after more than seven hours of deliberation and spared Gonzales a potential two‑year prison term [1][5]. Prosecutors had sought conviction for failing to act during the shooter’s initial minutes, while the defense emphasized the chaotic scene and lack of direct sight of the gunman [2][3].

Prosecutors Alleged Abandonment While Defense Cited Chaos State prosecutors argued Gonzales abandoned his training and duty by not confronting the gunman, asserting that an officer must not stand by while children are in imminent danger [1][5]. Defense attorneys countered that Gonzales arrived after the shooting began, never saw the attacker, and that three other officers who arrived seconds later had a better chance to stop the shooter [3][4]. The trial highlighted the broader debate over police liability for split‑second decisions in active‑shooter incidents [2].

Response Timeline Shows 77‑Minute Delay and Massive Police Presence Federal and DOJ reviews note that roughly 370 officers rushed to Robb Elementary, yet it took about 77 minutes before a tactical team entered the classroom where the gunman was firing [1][3][4]. The attack left 19 students and two teachers dead and injured ten others, underscoring the tragic cost of the delayed response [3][4]. The DOJ report described a lack of urgency and cascading leadership failures, fueling ongoing policy discussions about law‑enforcement tactics in mass‑casualty events [1].

Other Cases Remain Open and Families Seek Continued Accountability Victims’ families, who attended the trial and expressed mixed emotions, previously settled a $2 million claim with the city of Uvalde in 2024 [1]. Online backlash erupted after the acquittal, reflecting public frustration and calls for broader accountability [2]. Former Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo remains charged in a separate case, with his trial still unscheduled, indicating that legal scrutiny of the response continues [2][3][5].

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