CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — A Texas jury acquitted aformer police officerof all criminal child-endangerment charges on Wednesday, Jan. 21, stemming from his role in the botched law enforcement response to thedeadly 2022 school shooting.
On May 24, 2022, Adrian Gonzales was one of the first officers to arrive at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, after the shooter. Based on Gonzales' response to the shooting and an alleged failure to prevent the shooting and rescue victims who were killed, he faced charges of endangering 29 children.
Gonzales pleaded not guilty.
Adrian Gonzales, 52, who belonged to the Uvalde school district police force, had faced 29 counts of child endangerment for what prosecutors said was his failure to stop a gunman in the first minutes ofone of the deadliest school shootingsin U.S. history. Gonzales pleaded not guilty.
The gunman, an 18-year-old former student at the school, was ultimately shot dead by other officers. Former Uvalde school district police Chief Pete Arredondo also faces criminal charges for his response during the shooting, though his trial has not yet begun.
'Failure':DOJ's scathing Uvalde school shooting report criticizes law enforcement response
The prosecution and defense have questioned witnesses over the past two weeks. On Jan. 20, both sides rested their cases.
Gonzales, who was accused of neglecting to immediately confront the shooter in the first critical minutes after he arrived on the scene of the shooting, did not take the stand in his own defense.
The jury deliberated for about seven hours before reaching a verdict of not guilty on all 29 counts against Gonzales. "You can't stand by and allow it to happen," Special Prosecutor Bill Turner told the jury during closing arguments.
Look back at Uvalde school shooting victims mourned across the nation
Defense lawyer Jason Goss countered that prosecutors were trying to scapegoat Gonzales and make him "pay for the pain of that day."
Meanwhile, family members of the children killed could be seen weeping in the courtroom after the verdict was read. Gonzales bowed his head and appeared emotional after hearing the verdict.
Judge Sid Harle gave brief remarks thanking the jury for their service before excusing the jurors and declaring the court in recess.
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times:Uvalde officer acquitted of child endangerment in 2022 school shooting
