AUSTIN, Texas – Two former officers from the Uvalde school police department, Pete Arredondo and Adrian Gonzales, have been indicted for their actions during the response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in 2022. According to reports, a grand jury indicted Arredondo and Gonzales on multiple counts of felony child endangerment and abandonment.
The indictment has caused a stir in the community, with one of the officers expected to surrender sometime on Thursday, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office. District Attorney Christina Mitchell further confirmed the indictments, although the documents have not yet been made publicly available from the Uvalde County District Court clerk’s office.
In addition to Arredondo and Gonzales, there are reportedly two other former officers who were also involved in the indictment. However, their identities have not been disclosed. The Austin American-Statesman reported on this development, raising questions about the police response during the tragic incident at Robb Elementary School.
The U.S. Justice Department released a report earlier this year, highlighting the shortcomings in law enforcement’s response to the school shooting. The report indicated that there was a significant delay in stopping the shooter, leading to the loss of 19 students and two teachers. Surveillance footage revealed that officers were present in the school hallway while the gunman was active, but they did not engage with him for over an hour.
The incident has reignited conversations about school safety and law enforcement protocols in similar high-pressure situations. As the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, there is a growing call for accountability and review of existing practices to prevent such incidents in the future. The indictments of the former officers mark a significant step in seeking justice for the victims and their families, as they continue to seek closure and answers in the wake of the devastating event.