A jury in Corpus Christi, Texas, has acquitted former Uvalde school district police officer Adrian Gonzales on all 29 counts of child endangerment. The charges stemmed from his actions during the May 24, 2022, Robb Elementary School shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers. Prosecutors had alleged Gonzales neglected his duty, while his defense team maintained he acted appropriately given the information available and was being unfairly targeted. The verdict followed nine days of testimony and over seven hours of jury deliberation.
Trial Commencement and Charges
The trial for Adrian Gonzales, one of the initial officers to respond to the Robb Elementary School shooting, began with jury selection in Corpus Christi, approximately 200 miles from Uvalde. Over 100 potential jurors were excused due to concerns about their ability to remain impartial regarding the police response. Gonzales faced 29 felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child, corresponding to the 19 deceased students and 10 surviving students from classroom 112. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial was relocated after Gonzales's attorneys argued he would not receive a fair trial in Uvalde County.
Prosecution's Arguments
Prosecutors contended that Gonzales, an initial responder, failed to adhere to his training and placed children in "imminent danger" by not effectively engaging the shooter, Salvador Ramos. They alleged that a teacher encountered Ramos prior to his entry into the school and attempted to alert Gonzales. According to the prosecution, Gonzales subsequently broadcast over radio, stating, "Shots are fired, he's wearing black, he's in the parking lot," but allegedly remained at the south side of the school as Ramos discharged multiple rounds inside. Prosecutors asserted Gonzales had an opportunity to stop the event upon arrival, learning the gunman's location from a teaching aide who testified he did "nothing" during critical moments. They also claimed Gonzales failed to act once he entered the school.
Defense's Position
Gonzales's defense attorneys argued that he was being unfairly blamed for a broader failure of law enforcement during the incident. They asserted that Gonzales's actions were consistent with the information available to him at the time, stating he gathered critical intelligence, facilitated the evacuation of children, and entered the school. The defense contended that Gonzales "did what he could with what he knew at the time" and argued that a conviction would not deliver justice. Defense attorneys also noted that other officers arrived within the same timeframe as Gonzales and had opportunities to intervene. Gonzales declined to testify in his own defense.
Key Witness Testimony
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Gilbert Limones, an employee of a nearby funeral home, testified for the prosecution. He recounted observing the gunman, Salvador Ramos, proceeding towards the school's south end and firing into windows. Limones described making a 911 call during which he stated, "Oh my god, he is about to shoot them. He is shooting at the people. Oh, Jesus." He testified that he witnessed a white vehicle, identified as Gonzales's, pass Ramos without engagement. During cross-examination, Limones acknowledged that other officers also did not immediately follow Gonzales onto the campus.
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Stephanie Hale, a former Uvalde elementary school teacher, testified for the prosecution. She initially stated she observed the shooter on the south side of Robb Elementary and believed she and her students were under fire, describing her students running for shelter. However, prosecutors later acknowledged that in an interview conducted four days after the incident, Hale did not mention seeing the shooter or experiencing gunfire. The defense alleged non-disclosure of this discrepancy, leading to a procedural dispute. Judge Sid Harle ultimately instructed the jury to disregard Hale's entire testimony due to concerns for due process rights and potential appellate review, noting that memories of traumatic events can evolve.
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Emilia "Amy" Marin-Franco, the former afterschool coordinator at Robb Elementary, testified that she observed an individual crash a truck near the school and subsequently contacted 911 to report an armed individual proceeding toward the campus. Jurors were presented with a recording of her 911 call, where she conveyed information about the armed individual while directing students to seek cover. Marin-Franco testified to sheltering in a classroom and hearing numerous continuous gunshots. She also addressed an accusation of leaving a door open, stating she had removed a rock that was briefly used to prop a door open.
Deliberation and Verdict
Following nine days of testimony, the jury began deliberations. After more than seven hours, the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty on all 29 counts of child endangerment. Each felony count carried a potential maximum sentence of two years in prison.
Broader Context and Related Cases
The law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting involved approximately 400 officers, with a counterassault to neutralize Ramos taking 77 minutes. This case was a rare instance in U.S. law where prosecutors sought criminal accountability for an officer's response to a mass shooting. It marked the second such attempt in U.S. history.
In 2023, a Florida jury acquitted former Broward County sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson on similar charges related to the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland. Peterson's defense had argued that his role did not constitute a caregiving position necessary for child neglect charges and cited poor communication.
Former Uvalde schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo also faces charges of endangerment or abandonment of a child related to the Robb Elementary shooting, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His trial has been indefinitely postponed due to an ongoing federal lawsuit concerning U.S. Border Patrol agents who responded to the incident.