The trial of Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde schools police officer, began its second week on Monday, focusing on his alleged inaction during the law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24, 2022. Gonzales, 52, faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment, having pleaded not guilty. This tragic incident resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers and is considered one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
During the opening days of the trial, the courtroom witnessed dramatic replays of emergency calls and heard emotional testimonies from teachers who sought refuge with their students. The mother of a victim shared harrowing details about her daughter, Eliahna Garcia, who had requested to leave school early on that fateful day due to an awards program. Unfortunately, the family learned later that night that their daughter had been killed.
As the trial progresses into its second week, experts in police training and additional families of the victims are expected to provide testimony. However, it remains uncertain whether Gonzales will testify in his own defense. His case stands out because it is focused solely on his actions, amidst the presence of over 370 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who responded to the emergency.
Gonzales was among the first to arrive at Robb Elementary School as the unnamed gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, approached. Prosecutors have highlighted that it took over an hour for tactical teams to enter the classroom and neutralize the shooter. Prosecutors argue that Gonzales disregarded his active shooter training and failed to engage or distract the gunman when he was outside the school. They contend that he further failed when responding officers retreated under gunfire shortly after entering the school.
Testimony from special prosecutor Bill Turner emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "When a child calls 911, we have a right to expect a response." In contrast, Gonzales’s defense attorneys claim he did not see the gunman outside and pointed out that he aided in evacuating other classrooms. They also stressed that the gunman gained entry through an unlocked door, complicating the response.
Testimonies from educators described the sheer terror of witnessing the gunman as he advanced toward the school, with accounts detailing students locking classroom doors, turning off lights, and remaining silent following their active shooter training. Teacher Lynn Deming, who was injured during the shooting, emotionally recounted assuring her students of her love, despite not knowing if they would be safe.
Prosecutors have focused significantly on the trail of bullets and shell casings found outside the school. Their aim is to illustrate that Gonzales was close enough to intervene when the shooting began. However, a setback occurred when a teacher’s testimony was partially dismissed by the judge, who ruled that a detailed description of the shooter provided by her was newly introduced evidence. While a mistrial was denied, the jury was instructed to disregard her statements.
This prosecution is notable as it is one of the rare instances where a police officer may face criminal charges for failing to act during a critical situation. Gonzales is among only two officers, the other being former Uvalde schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who are facing legal repercussions related to their actions during the shooting. Arredondo's trial is still pending. Prosecutors may encounter significant challenges in securing a conviction, recalling a previous case where a Florida sheriff's deputy was acquitted after failing to engage a shooter during the 2018 Parkland school massacre—the first such prosecution for an on-campus shooting in the U.S.
