By A Texas grand jury has indicted two former Uvalde school police officers for their roles in the botched law enforcement response to the devastating 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, where 19 children and two teachers lost their lives. This marks the first criminal charges stemming from the tragic incident, according to sources familiar with the indictment.
Former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales have been named in the indictments. Arredondo surrendered himself to the Texas Rangers in Uvalde, as confirmed by an official from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The charges against the two officers include felony counts of abandoning and endangering a child, as detailed by Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell to the Uvalde Leader-News. It was anticipated that one of the officers would surrender later on Thursday, following the indictment.
Family members of the victims have been in consultation with the District Attorney’s office regarding the outcomes of the extensive grand jury investigation. Brett Cross, guardian of 10-year-old victim Uziyah Garcia, expressed the families’ sentiments about seeking justice for the tragic loss they endured.
Earlier this year, a comprehensive report by the US Justice Department exposed numerous failures in the law enforcement response to the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School. The report highlighted critical leadership shortcomings among specific officers, attributing these deficiencies to the prolonged duration (77 minutes) before the shooter was stopped, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in recent US history.
Former Chief Arredondo was dismissed from his position in August 2022 due to his role in the inadequate response. Subsequently, his successor, Joshua Gutierrez, resigned in May, with his tenure ending shortly after.
Multiple law enforcement personnel, including members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, were summoned to provide testimony before the grand jury as part of the investigation. Witnesses, including school staff and shooting victims, began their testimonies in March, coinciding with an independent report commissioned by the Uvalde City Council that initially absolved all local officers of wrongdoing.
The findings of this independent investigation drew widespread community backlash, with many asserting that certain officers should not have been cleared of responsibility. In response, Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez announced his resignation in April, signaling a need for leadership change amid the ongoing fallout.
The Justice Department’s extensive report dismantled the initial narrative of heroic first responders, revealing systemic failures in communication, coordination, and tactical decision-making during and after the shooting. It underscored the profound impact on victims’ families, who criticized the lack of timely and accurate information and support in the aftermath.
In May, families of the victims reached a $2 million settlement with the city and announced their intent to sue 92 officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the school district, and individual employees, citing systemic failures that contributed to the tragic outcomes of that day.
The indictment of Arredondo and Gonzales represents a pivotal step in holding accountable those responsible for the lapses that exacerbated the tragedy at Robb Elementary School. As legal proceedings unfold, the community continues to grapple with the enduring impact of the devastating events of May 24, 2022.
