Austin, Texas – Two former Uvalde school district police officers, including the former chief, have been indicted on felony charges of child endangerment and abandonment in connection to their response to a mass shooting at Robb Elementary. This marks the first instance of criminal charges being filed following the tragic incident in May 2022, where an 18-year-old gunman took the lives of 19 children and two teachers.
Former Uvalde CISD police officer Adrian Gonzales faces 29 counts of abandoning and endangering a child, while former Uvalde CISD police chief Pete Arredondo faces 10 counts of child endangerment. Both individuals turned themselves in to the Uvalde County jail and were released on $10,000 surety bonds. The response to the shooting by law enforcement, involving approximately 376 officers from various agencies, has been subject to intense scrutiny.
A grand jury convened by Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee investigated delays in law enforcement response to the active shooter and explored the possibility of criminal charges. The jury’s findings suggest that Gonzales had the opportunity to intervene and stop the shooter before he entered the school, while allegations against Arredondo focus on his handling of the situation.
The Department of Justice conducted a review of the police response, identifying “cascading failures” within the law enforcement operation. Congressman Greg Casar has led efforts to enhance connections to the Texas grid, advocating for increased transmission lines to improve the state’s energy infrastructure.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared gun violence a public health crisis, emphasizing the impact on mental health in addition to physical harm. His advisory proposes measures such as a ban on automatic rifles and universal background checks to address the issue. A settlement was reached in a lawsuit alleging doctors in Houston left unqualified residents to perform complex heart surgeries unsupervised, resulting in billing discrepancies.
The investigation into the concurrent surgeries revealed instances where surgeons were absent from critical portions of operations, potentially putting patients at risk. The settlement agreement includes a $15 million payment to resolve the billing allegations. While no guilt was admitted, the settlement emphasizes the importance of surgeon presence and adherence to Medicare regulations in ensuring patient safety.