Additional Coverage:
- Indictment accuses former Uvalde schools police chief of delays while shooter was ‘hunting’ children (newsbreak.com)
AUSTIN, Texas – The former Chief of Police for the Uvalde, Texas school district, Pete Arredondo, has been indicted for failing to adequately respond to an active shooter situation at Robb Elementary, where a gunman killed 21 individuals. Arredondo was taken into custody and then released on bond from the Uvalde County jail, facing 10 charges of abandoning or endangering a child related to the tragic event on May 24, 2022, which resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers. Additionally, ex-school officer Adrian Gonzales has been similarly indicted, though details of his charges have yet to be made public.
These charges mark the first instance of police officers being held legally accountable for the delayed law enforcement reaction during one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. This development comes as a relief to the families of the victims, who have long awaited legal action.
Jesse Rizo, uncle of student victim Jacklyn Cazares, expressed a bittersweet satisfaction with the charges but hopes for more accountability. The defense for Gonzales views these charges as unprecedented, with Gonzales maintaining innocence based on adherence to policy and law.
This indictment follows a notable case in Florida where a sheriff’s deputy was acquitted for failing to intervene in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, highlighting the rarity and complexity of such legal actions against law enforcement officers.
Arredondo is specifically accused of not recognizing the scenario as an active shooting, not following trained protocols, and ordering officers away from the shooter, which critically hindered the response time. Despite the presence of over 370 officers on the scene, the assailant was not confronted until more than an hour had passed.
Critics of the police’s actions are calling for broader accountability, emphasizing the agonizing wait and missed opportunities to save lives. The charge against Arredondo points to a failure in protecting not just those who lost their lives but also survivors like Khloie Torres, who pleaded for help during the attack.
Facing up to two years in prison if convicted, Arredondo’s legal representation details remain unconfirmed. In previous statements, Arredondo defended his response to the shooting, claiming he acted with the intention of safeguarding students and staff.
Following the tragedy, various officers have been dismissed, and investigations by both state and federal entities have criticized the overall handling of the situation. Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, representing Uvalde, insists the scope of accountability should extend beyond the indicted officers, underlining a widespread demand for justice and answers in the wake of the Uvalde tragedy.