**Former Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo Faces Charges**
In a significant development more than two years after the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, former school police chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzalez have been indicted on charges related to their response to the incident. The shooting, which occurred on May 24, 2022, resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers, making it the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
A Uvalde County grand jury returned indictments against Arredondo and Gonzalez, charging them with 19 counts of child endangerment, one for each student killed. The charges mark the first criminal actions taken against law enforcement officers involved in the response to the shooting.
The police response to the shooting has been widely criticized for its delay. Law enforcement officers took 77 minutes to confront the shooter, a delay that has been attributed to failures in leadership and decision-making. Arredondo, who was the incident commander according to the school district’s active shooter response plan, had previously told investigators that he assumed the students in the room with the shooter were already dead. However, at least three victims were pulled out of the classroom alive but later succumbed to their injuries.
Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco confirmed that Arredondo was taken into custody at the Uvalde County Jail but was later released after posting a $10,000 bond. Gonzalez is not currently in custody.
The grand jury investigation, convened by Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell, aimed to scrutinize the delayed response by law enforcement and determine whether criminal charges should be brought against any of the nearly 400 officers involved. The U.S. Justice Department had previously issued a report documenting widespread failures in the response, noting that lives could have been saved had law enforcement acted more swiftly.
In the aftermath of the shooting, about a dozen officers were either fired, suspended, or retired. Arredondo was fired three months after the incident, and Gonzalez was no longer employed by the district by January 2023. The district attorney briefed some families of the victims about the indictments, offering a glimmer of hope for those seeking accountability.
Jesse Rizo, whose niece Jacklyn Cazares was among the children killed, expressed hope that the indictments would lead to further prosecutions. “I’m really hoping this is just the beginning of indictments that may be coming down,” Rizo said. “There are a lot of officers that need to be held accountable.”
Local activist Lalo Castillo also voiced expectations that state officials, particularly state troopers who were among the first responders, would face charges. The DA’s office has not commented on whether additional officers will be indicted, and grand jury proceedings in Texas remain secret.
DPS Director Steve McCraw, who testified before the grand jury, had previously blamed local officers for the bungled response. In 2022, he testified before the Texas Senate, stating that it wasn’t feasible for his officers to assume command, even though Arredondo was not acting quickly. A total of 91 responding officers were from DPS.
Legal experts have noted that bringing criminal charges against police officers can be challenging due to legal protections. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that officers don’t have a constitutional “duty to protect,” even if they are trained to do so. Prosecutors may face difficulties proving beyond a reasonable doubt that officers were under a legal duty to act and that their failure to do so caused harm.
The grand jury investigation is one of at least six official probes launched after the shooting. These investigations have left many family members of the victims frustrated, as they continue to push for increased transparency and accountability. An independent review commissioned by the city of Uvalde cleared all local officers of wrongdoing, further frustrating parents and local officials.
Private investigator Jesse Prado, who conducted the independent review, identified lapses in leadership but also commended some officers for acting in “good faith.” Prado blamed the district attorney for not cooperating with his investigation. Mitchell is in possession of a state police report but has yet to make it public.
In the absence of concrete action by elected officials, some families have filed civil lawsuits. Relatives of 17 of the children killed and two who were injured sued DPS in May, just before the second anniversary of the shooting. The families also reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde, which committed to providing enhanced training for current and future law enforcement officers.
Relatives have also filed a separate lawsuit against Daniel Defense, the company that manufactured the shooter’s gun, as well as California-based companies Meta and Activision.
The indictments of Arredondo and Gonzalez represent a significant step towards accountability, but many in the Uvalde community believe more needs to be done. Brett Cross, whose son Uziyah “Uzi” Garcia was killed, emphasized the need for broader accountability. “Arredondo needs to face responsibility. Gonzalez needs to face responsibility. There are 300 and some odd more officers that need to face responsibility as well,” Cross said.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the families of the victims and the Uvalde community continue to seek justice and answers for the tragic events of May 24, 2022.
Source: KTRK-TV, Uvalde-Leader News, San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman, USA TODAY Network, Forbes
