Former Texas Cop Acquitted In Uvalde School Shooting
A jury on Wednesday cleared former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police officer Adrian Gonzales, acquitting him on all 29 felony counts of child endangerment stemming from his actions during the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Gonzales, 52, was among the first officers to respond to the attack and was accused by prosecutors of failing to confront the gunman quickly, allegedly placing lives at risk through inaction. After more than seven hours of deliberations, jurors returned unanimous “not guilty” verdicts on every count.
The case represented a rare attempt to impose criminal liability on a law enforcement officer for decisions made during a rapidly evolving mass-casualty event. Prosecutors argued Gonzales neglected his duty amid one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, while the defense maintained he was being used as a political scapegoat for systemic failures involving hundreds of responding officers.
Defense attorney Jason Goss told jurors the state sought to channel public outrage toward a single officer rather than confront broader institutional breakdowns.
“They have decided he has to pay for the pain of that day and it’s not right,” Goss said during closing arguments.
Gonzales was one of the first officers to arrive at Robb Elementary, where more than 400 law enforcement personnel eventually converged. Despite the massive response, officers waited 77 minutes before breaching the classroom where the gunman was barricaded. The shooter, a former student, was ultimately killed by police.
Special Prosecutor Bill Turner argued Gonzales bore responsibility for failing to immediately engage the suspect.
“You can’t stand by and allow it to happen,” Turner told the jury.
The verdict drew emotional reactions from families of victims, many of whom have long demanded accountability for what they view as a catastrophic law enforcement failure.
Javier Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie was killed, said the acquittal deepened his sense of loss and frustration.
“We had a little hope, but it wasn’t enough,” Cazares said outside the courthouse. “Again, we are failed. I don’t even know what to say.”
He added that he tried to prepare himself for the outcome.
“I need to keep composed for my daughter. It has been an emotional rollercoaster since day one. I am pissed,” he said.
Jackie’s uncle, Jesse Rizo, questioned what precedent the verdict sets for future police responses.
“I respect the jury’s decision, but what message does it send?” he said. “If you’re an officer, you can simply stand by, stand down, stand idle, and not do anything and wait for everybody to be executed, killed, slaughtered, massacred.”
Jackie’s aunt, Julissa Rizo, rejected the defense’s portrayal of Gonzales’ actions, telling ABC News, “That’s not true.”
“There were two monsters on May 24. One was the shooter, and the other one was the one that never went in, that could have avoided this,” she said.
Goss strongly disputed that characterization, insisting the evidence showed Gonzales acted with courage under extreme conditions.
“The evidence showed that not only did he not fail, but he put himself in great danger,” Goss said.
Another defense attorney, Nico LaHood, emphasized empathy for the families while defending the verdict.
“We understand that their separation from their loved one is going to be felt as long as they walk on this earth, and we don’t ignore that. We acknowledge that,” he said. “We’re just going to continue to pray for them.”
Legal scrutiny surrounding the Uvalde response is not over. Former school police chief Pete Arredondo also faces criminal charges related to the shooting but has not yet gone to trial.