UVALDE, Texas – A former Uvalde school district police chief, Pete Arredondo, was indicted on ten charges related to his handling of the response to an active shooter incident that resulted in the tragic deaths of 19 children and two teachers in May 2022. Arredondo was booked into the county jail but was released on bond shortly after. Another former officer, Adrian Gonzales, was also indicted in connection to the incident.
The indictments come after a six-month grand jury investigation that included testimony from various individuals, including Texas Department of Public Safety director Col. Steve McCraw. If convicted, the officers could face up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine for the state jail felony charges.
Arredondo has faced significant scrutiny for his role in the law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary school shooting, the worst in Texas history. Authorities critiqued his decision to treat the attacker as a barricaded subject rather than an active shooter, resulting in a delayed response that allowed the gunman to continue to harm students.
The indictment alleges that Arredondo failed to act to protect survivors of the attack, including individuals who called for help during the incident. It also mentions instances where he directed officers to evacuate the school before confronting the shooter, and attempted to negotiate with the gunman instead of taking immediate action to stop the violence.
These charges come after years of pressure from the families of the victims, who have been seeking accountability for the tragic events. A U.S. Department of Justice report in January highlighted several failures in the law enforcement response, leading to the indictment of the officers involved. The indictments serve as a stark contrast to the initial narrative of police heroism presented by authorities after the shooting.
This case is one of the few instances nationally where a law enforcement officer is facing charges for failing to act during an on-campus shooting. Legal experts believe that the outcome of this case could impact the definition of the legal responsibilities of police officers during mass shootings. District Attorney Christina Mitchell has not provided further comments on the ongoing investigation.
In conclusion, the indictments against Arredondo and Gonzales shed light on the need for accountability in law enforcement and the importance of proper responses to active shooter incidents to prevent further tragedies. The families of the victims and the community at large continue to seek justice and closure in the wake of this horrific event.