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- Deliberations underway in Uvalde school shooting trial (abcnews.go.com)
Deliberations Begin in Uvalde Officer Trial Following Emotional Closing Arguments
Corpus Christi, TX – Jurors have begun deliberations in the trial of former Uvalde schools police officer Adrian Gonzales, following intense closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense on Wednesday. The case, which marks the first criminal trial stemming from the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in May 2022, centers on whether Gonzales neglected his duty and endangered students during the attack that claimed 19 children and two teachers.
District Attorney Christina Mitchell delivered a powerful closing statement, urging jurors to consider the broader implications of their decision. “I know this case is difficult, and it has been difficult.
But we cannot continue to let children die in vain,” Mitchell pleaded. She emphasized the need to uphold laws governing the responsibilities of school law enforcement.
“What happened to Uvalde on May 24 can happen anywhere, at any time… if we have laws mandating what the responsibility of a law enforcement peace officer is for a school district, then we better be ready to back it up.”
Gonzales, one of the initial officers to arrive at the scene, is accused of ignoring his training and failing to act decisively during the 77-minute delay before the gunman was confronted.
Prosecution: An Opportunity to “Set the Bar”
Prosecutor Bill Turner framed the jury’s role as an opportunity to “set the bar” for how officers should respond to school shootings. He directly challenged the notion that inaction could be acceptable. “If it’s appropriate to stand outside hearing [hundreds of] shots while children are being slaughtered, that is your decision to tell the state of Texas,” Turner asserted.
Turner highlighted the contrast between the actions of sheltering teachers and students, who followed their training, and Gonzales, who he argued failed to follow his own. He contended that each gunshot should have served as a clear directive for Gonzales to advance toward the gunfire.
Witness testimony from teaching aide Melodye Flores, who reportedly pleaded with Gonzales to intervene, was also cited as a critical indicator that should have prompted action. “The training is, you hear shots, you go to the gunfire.
He heard shots, and Melodye Flores was pointing where to go to the gunfire. There’s nothing complicated about that,” Turner concluded.
Defense: Gonzales “Drove into Danger”
Defense attorney Nico LaHood argued that Gonzales acted bravely, stating he “drove into danger” to confront the shooter. LaHood contended that Gonzales is being unfairly singled out, having done more than many other officers present that day. He drew a direct comparison to former Uvalde police sergeant Daniel Coronado, noting that Gonzales was alone and closer to the threat, while Coronado remained at the perimeter with backup.
Defense attorney Jason Goss warned jurors that a conviction could deter future law enforcement responses to mass shootings. “What you tell police officers is, ‘Don’t go in.
Don’t react. Don’t respond,'” Goss cautioned, emphasizing the negative message this would send.
He accused prosecutors of attempting to “massage the facts” to paint Gonzales in a negative light, arguing that Gonzales acted to the best of his ability with the information available to him.
While acknowledging the desire for accountability for the victims, Goss reminded the jury, “The monster who hurt those kids is dead.” He concluded by stating that convicting Gonzales would be “an injustice” to the victims’ memory.
Charges and Potential Consequences
Gonzales faces 29 felony counts of abandoning/endangering children, one for each of the 19 students who died and the 10 who survived in classroom 112. Each count carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Should he be convicted, Gonzales has opted for Judge Sid Harle to determine his sentence.
The case of former Uvalde schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who was also charged, has been indefinitely delayed due to a pending civil lawsuit.
While uncommon, similar cases have been pursued. In 2023, a Florida jury acquitted Scot Peterson, a former Broward County sheriff’s deputy, who faced child neglect and culpable negligence charges for his response to the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland.
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