Trial Begins for Former Uvalde Officer Charged in Robb Elementary Shooting Response

Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde school police officer, is on trial in Corpus Christi, Texas, facing 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment. The charges stem from his alleged inaction during the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School, where 19 students and two teachers were killed.

Gonzales, along with former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo, was among the first responders to the scene. Both are the only officers to face criminal charges over the delayed response, during which nearly 400 law enforcement officers waited 77 minutes before confronting the shooter.

The indictment alleges that Gonzales placed children in "imminent danger" by failing to engage or distract the shooter and not adhering to active shooter training protocols. His attorney, Nico LaHood, contends that Gonzales attempted to save children during the attack.

The trial was relocated approximately 200 miles southeast to Corpus Christi to ensure impartiality, as agreed upon by both defense and prosecution.

This case is notable as it is rare for law enforcement officers to be prosecuted for inaction during mass shootings. A similar case involved a sheriff's deputy in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting, who was acquitted in 2023.

The trial is expected to last up to three weeks, beginning with jury selection. If convicted, Gonzales faces up to two years in prison for each count.