Uvalde, Texas – Two former Uvalde school police officers have been indicted by a grand jury for their involvement in the botched response to the tragic 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary school. The incident resulted in the devastating loss of 19 children and two teachers. Former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales are facing criminal charges related to the school massacre, marking the first legal actions taken in connection to the tragedy.
Arredondo turned himself in to the Texas Rangers in Uvalde on Thursday, where he was booked on 10 counts of child endangerment and criminal negligence. The indictments against the two officers have not been made public by the Uvalde County District Court clerkâs office. The charges they are facing include felony counts of abandoning and endangering a child, according to Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell.
Families of the victims have been engaged in discussions with the District Attorney’s office regarding the outcome of the extensive grand jury investigation. The investigation revealed critical failures in the law enforcement response to the shooting. A damning report released by the US Justice Department highlighted missed opportunities to prevent further bloodshed during the tragic event at Robb Elementary School.
The Justice Department’s report detailed multiple problems that emerged after the shooter was stopped, including challenges in reuniting students with their families and providing necessary support and services to the affected community. The report also criticized the lack of prompt action taken by law enforcement officers during the active shooter situation.
In response to the findings, Arredondo was dismissed from his position in August 2022, with his successor, Joshua Gutierrez, resigning earlier this year. The tragic incident prompted a lawsuit settlement of $2 million with the city by families of the victims, as well as a subsequent lawsuit against 92 officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the school district, and individual employees.
The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the school shooting, seeking justice and accountability for the lives lost and the systemic failures that contributed to the tragedy. As legal proceedings unfold and investigations reveal more details surrounding the incident, the Uvalde community remains united in their pursuit of closure and healing.