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Former Uvalde School’s Officer Pleads Not Guilty in Child Endangerment and Abandonment Charges
Not Guilty Plea of Ex-Police Officer in School Massacre
In Uvalde, Texas, one of the first officers who arrived at the scene of the gruesome school massacre in 2022, Mr. Adrian Gonzales, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to 29 counts of child abandonment and endangerment. Serving as a Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police officer at the time of the incident, Mr. Gonzales faces the charges relating to the harrowing event that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. If he is found guilty, Mr. Gonzales could face a state felony punishment of up to two years in prison.
Mr. Gonzales worked alongside the former Uvalde schools police chief, Pete Arredondo, and both are the only law enforcement officers thus far indicted on criminal charges relating to the mass shooting – the deadliest at a school in over a decade.
The Charges Against Gonzales
According to the indictment, Mr. Gonzales purportedly failed to follow his training for active shooter response.
“After hearing gun shots, and after being advised of the shooter’s general location and possessing time to respond, Adrian Gonzales failed to engage, distract, delay the shooter, and also failed to undertake any other action intended to impede the shooter,” the indictment asserts. The implications suggest the officer did not act until after the shooter had entered classrooms 111 and 112 and began shooting at the children inside.
In court, Mr. Gonzales confirmed that he comprehended the charges against him and waived the reading. Approximately 40 relatives of the massacre victims and survivors attended the arraignment.
Defense of Gonzales: A Wrongful Singling Out?
Speaking in defense, Mr. Gonzales’ attorney, Nico LaHood, argued that his client believes in his innocence. The defense questions why over 370 officers present during the incident have not been indicted or proposed any theory to single out Mr. Gonzales in particular. Additional information regarding the defense’s argument is anticipated to emerge during the discovery phase of the case.
Revisiting the Tragic Day
According to Mr. Gonzales’ account of the event, he was at the high school when he overheard the report of a vehicular accident near Robb Elementary School and subsequently left to examine the situation. Upon arriving and hearing the lethal gunshots, he joined with Mr. Arredondo in entering the school’s south hallway.
He attempted to call for a SWAT team through his radio, but due to interference inside the school building, he had to exit in order to acquire a signal. Tragically, he did not go back in. Instead, while the gunman continued to terrorize the school, Mr. Gonzales stated that he waited outside the west door with emergency medics. Roughly after a two-year service in the Uvalde school district, he departed from the department in February 2023.
Sequel to the Proceedings
Now indicted on 10 counts of child endangerment and known criminal negligence, Pete Arredondo, perceived as the incident commander during the attack, was dismissed by the Uvalde school board three months post the shooting. He entered a plea of not guilty last week after waiving his right to an arraignment. Both Gonzales and Arredondo have been released on a $10,000 bond. Gonzales is set for his next court hearing at 1:30 p.m. on September 16.