Thursday, January 22, 2026-In a verdict that’s sending shockwaves through discussions on law enforcement accountability, a Texas jury found former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police officer Adrian Gonzales not guilty on all 29 counts of child endangerment and abandonment tied to his response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting.
Gonzales faced charges alleging he failed to act swiftly during one of the deadliest school shootings in recent U.S. history, an incident that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. The jury’s decision came after more than seven hours of deliberation in Corpus Christi, Texas, where the trial was moved to ensure impartiality amid intense public scrutiny.
Prosecutors had argued that Gonzales should be held criminally responsible for not following active‑shooter protocols and potentially endangering students by delaying direct engagement with the shooter. The defense countered that Gonzales did not see the gunman and focused on evacuation efforts, portraying him as a first responder doing his duty under chaotic and life‑threatening conditions. Jurors ultimately sided with the defense, highlighting the complex and split‑second decisions officers must make in active‑shooter situations.
The acquittal reignites urgent national debates around police response standards in mass casualty events, the threshold for holding officers legally accountable, and how responsibility is apportioned when multiple agencies respond under chaotic circumstances. Victims’ families expressed profound disappointment, emphasizing that the verdict leaves lingering questions about accountability and justice. With former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo still awaiting trial on related charges, this case remains at the center of broader calls for systemic reforms in law enforcement training and protocols.
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