AUSTIN, Texas – Following a grand jury investigation into the police response during the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde’s former school police chief has been indicted on charges of child endangerment. Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco confirmed that the former chief was booked on 10 counts of child endangerment and subsequently released. Another former school officer, Adrian Gonzales, was also indicted on multiple counts of felony child endangerment and abandonment.
The indictments mark a significant development in the aftermath of the tragic school shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers. This incident, one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, saw a delayed police response with officers waiting over 70 minutes before entering the classroom where the shooting took place.
Reports from local news outlets, including the Uvalde Leader-News and the San Antonio Express-News, detailed the charges laid against the former school officers. District Attorney Christina Mitchell confirmed the indictment, making Arredondo and Gonzales the first officers to face criminal charges in connection to the massacre.
In the wake of the shooting, several officers involved were fired, with investigations by both the Department of Justice and state lawmakers highlighting failures in the law enforcement response. The slow and inadequate police reaction prompted scrutiny from lawmakers and the public, leading to calls for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
The Texas Rangers completed an investigation and handed their findings over to prosecutors, sparking questions about potential criminal charges against the officers. The community of Uvalde remains divided, with some seeking closure and others demanding transparency and accountability in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Despite the passage of time since the shooting, the wounds inflicted by the incident still linger in the community. The closure of Robb Elementary School underscores the lasting impact of the tragedy, while efforts to build a new school reflect the city’s commitment to moving forward from the devastating event.