Archive · 7 Jan 2026
Uvalde Officer Trial Begins for Failing to Act
A former police officer named Adrian Gonzales is going to trial.
He is accused of not doing enough to stop a shooter who killed 19 students and 2 teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022.
The officer is charged with 29 counts of child endangerment because he did not follow his training to confront the gunman.
Many people, including other officers, waited 77 minutes before entering the classroom where the shooting happened.
Gonzales says he helped children evacuate, but the trial will decide if he did enough.
Another officer, Pedro Arredondo, who was in charge, also faces similar charges but has not gone to trial yet.
The shooting was one of the worst in U.S. history, and people are still debating how to prevent such tragedies.
Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde school officer, is on trial for failing to act during the 2022 school shooting.
He is charged with 29 counts of child endangerment for not engaging the shooter.
Officers waited 77 minutes before entering the classroom where the gunman was holed up.
Gonzales' attorney argues he helped evacuate children, but he has pleaded not guilty.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of 19 students and 2 teachers, one of the deadliest in U.S. history.
- Who
- Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde school district police officer
- What
- Trial for failing to act during the 2022 Uvalde school shooting
- When
- Trial begins in 2024, shooting occurred on May 24, 2022
- Where
- Uvalde, Texas, USA
- Why
- Accused of failing to engage, distract, and delay the shooter
Prosecution
Defense
Officer's Actions
Prosecution
Prosecutors argue that Adrian Gonzales failed to engage, distract, and delay the shooter, and did not follow active shooter training to respond to gunfire by advancing toward the gunfire.
Defense
Defense attorneys emphasize the chaotic scene and argue that Gonzales did the best he could with the information he had at the time, and did not fully understand the gunman's intentions or location.
Understanding of the Situation
Prosecution
Prosecutors claim that Gonzales knew the gunman's location and did nothing to stop the slaughter.
Defense
Defense argues that Gonzales did not see the gunman or fully understand where he was, making it difficult to confront him.
Emotional Response
Prosecution
Prosecutors aim to evoke emotions by highlighting the horrific details of the shooting and the victims' suffering.
Defense
Defense urges the jury to hold their emotions at bay and not lay blame on Gonzales for the gunman's actions.
- Officer Charged
- Adrian Gonzales
- Charges
- 29 counts of child endangerment
- Potential Sentence
- 2 years per count
- Shooting Date
- May 24, 2022
- Victims
- 19 students, 2 teachers
- Response Time
- 77 minutes
- Defendant's Plea
- Not guilty
- Trial Location
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Other Officer Charged
- Pedro 'Pete' Arredondo
- Arredondo's Charges
- 10 counts of child endangerment
Sources
Former Uvalde school officer accused of failing to act against shooter who killed 19 students, two teachers – ThePrint – ReutersFeed
Opening arguments to begin in trial of former Uvalde school officer accused of inaction during shooting
Former Uvalde officer waited as ‘slaughter’ began, prosecutors say; defense cites chaotic scene
Who Is Adrian Gonzales? Former Officer On Trial Over Uvalde School Shooting Response