Former Uvalde school police chief to stand trial over delay in confronting gunman killing children May 2022

A former Uvalde school police officer is now the first to stand trial over the catastrophic 77-minute delay in confronting the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in May 2022 — one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

Opening arguments begin Tuesday for 52-year-old Adrian Gonzales, who faces 29 counts of child endangerment for allegedly failing to follow active-shooter protocol — including advancing toward gunfire to distract or stop the killer. Each count carries up to two years in prison. Gonzales has pleaded not guilty, with his attorney arguing he helped evacuate students.

Hundreds of officers from multiple agencies waited outside the classroom while terrified children and teachers phoned 911 from inside — reporting bodies, injuries, and begging for help. A tactical team finally entered more than an hour after the shooting began.

Former school police chief Pete Arredondo also faces criminal charges, though his trial has not yet been scheduled.

Federal investigators later concluded “lives would have been saved” had police immediately confronted the shooter — a finding that fueled outrage, grief, and a national debate over police response failures.

Because of deep local anger, Gonzales’ trial was moved to Corpus Christi, where a jury of 12 — mostly older residents — has now been seated. The proceedings reopen painful wounds for families still mourning children who never came home.

The case marks a rare — and closely watched — attempt to hold a police officer criminally liable for inaction during a mass shooting. Prosecutors say Gonzales’ hesitation violated both training and duty. The defense says he did what he could.

For Uvalde parents, the question is painfully simple: why didn’t anyone go in?

Key Takeaways

• First officer on trial: Adrian Gonzales faces 29 child-endangerment counts over his failure to confront the gunman.

• 77-minute delay: Children called 911 from inside the classroom while hundreds of officers waited outside.

• Historic accountability test: Investigators say lives could have been saved — now a jury will decide whether inaction is a crime.

SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS

Being a cop is rough these days. I'm not giving an opinion on this specifically. Just that you could face prison time for excess enthusiasm and also lack of.