Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Uvalde Officer Acquitted in School Shooting Case
A man named Adrian Gonzales was a police officer at a school in Uvalde, Texas.
In 2022, there was a very sad event where a gunman hurt and killed many students and teachers.
The police officer was later accused of not doing enough to stop the gunman.
A jury recently decided that he was not guilty of these charges.
The case was about whether he put the children in danger by not acting quickly enough.
The jury said he did not.
Some people were sad and surprised by the decision, while others thought it was fair.
The trial lasted almost three weeks and was held in a different city because they thought it would be fairer.
A Texas jury acquitted former Uvalde school district police officer Adrian Gonzales of 29 counts of felony child endangerment related to the 2022 school shooting.
The charges stemmed from Gonzales' alleged failure to stop the gunman in the initial minutes of the shooting, which resulted in 21 deaths.
The trial, held in Corpus Christi, lasted nearly three weeks, with the jury deliberating for over seven hours before reaching a not guilty verdict.
Prosecutors argued that Gonzales' inaction endangered children, while the defense claimed he was being scapegoated for the mistakes of all officers involved.
The gunman, an 18-year-old former student, was eventually shot dead by other officers after a 77-minute delay in entering the classroom.
- Who
- Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde school district police officer
- What
- Acquittal on 29 counts of child endangerment
- When
- January 21, 2024
- Where
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Why
- For his role in the law enforcement response to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting
Prosecution
Defense
Gonzales' Actions
Prosecution
Gonzales failed to stop the gunman in the initial minutes, endangering children.
Defense
Gonzales could not see the shooter and did not freeze; he should not be scapegoated for the mistakes of all officers.
- Defendant
- Adrian Gonzales
- Charges
- 29 counts of felony child endangerment
- Verdict
- Not guilty
- Incident
- 2022 Uvalde school shooting
- Casualties
- 19 students and 2 teachers
- Trial Location
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Jury Deliberation
- Over seven hours
- Potential Sentence
- Up to two years in prison per count
Sources
Uvalde police officer acquitted of child endangerment in deadly Texas school shooting
Former Texas police officer acquitted in Uvalde school shooting trial
Uvalde shooting: Texas jury acquits former school police officer of endangerment charges
