At a Glance
- Adrian Gonzales, former Uvalde schools police officer, faces trial for child abandonment and endangerment.
- The trial begins Monday after a 77-minute delay that left 19 children and 2 teachers dead.
- Only 2 of the 376 officers on scene have been charged, sparking questions about accountability.
- Why it matters: Families seek justice for the long delay and hope the trial will hold law-enforcement officers accountable.
The first officer on the scene of the 2022 Uvalde elementary school shooting will stand trial Monday, as families and prosecutors confront a 77-minute delay that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Trial Overview
Adrian Gonzales was indicted two years after the attack for failing to engage the shooter and for placing children in imminent danger. The indictment accuses him of ignoring active-shooter training and not advancing toward the gunfire despite hearing shots. The charges reflect the dead and wounded children, not the teacher deaths.
- Child abandonment
- Endangerment
Velma Lisa Duran said:
> “What about the other 374? They all waited and allowed children and teachers to die.”
Community Impact
In Uvalde, the Robb Elementary building stands empty, surrounded by memorials of crosses and murals. Families have pursued lawsuits, a $2 million settlement, and political campaigns, but the trial offers one of the few chances to see police answer for the delay. The city’s strong tradition of supporting law-enforcement has also shaped reactions.
- Lawsuits filed against law-enforcement, gun manufacturers, and others
- $2 million settlement with the city
- Several parents ran for political office
Craig Garnett said:
> “People who were not directly affected by the attack have found it pretty easy to move forward.”
Jesse Rizo said:
> “It really bothers us a lot that maybe she could have lived.”
Jesse Rizo added:
> “I hear, ‘They tried the best they could’ and ‘Do you blame them? Would you have taken a bullet?’ It angers me and frustrates me.”
Legal Context
The trial moved to Corpus Christi after both sides agreed a change of venue would yield an impartial jury. Similar prosecutions, such as the 2023 acquittal of Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson in the 2018 Parkland shooting, set a high bar for conviction.
Key Takeaways
- Gonzales faces trial for the 77-minute delay that left 19 children and 2 teachers dead.
- Only 2 of 376 officers have been charged, raising questions about accountability.
- The trial in Corpus Christi seeks to provide an impartial jury and a rare chance for law-enforcement accountability.
The outcome may become a rare example of a law-enforcement officer criminally charged for inaction during a mass shooting.
