Trial underway for former Uvalde school police officer accused of slow response to shooting

Opening statements are acceptable to beryllium heard Tuesday successful the proceedings of a erstwhile Uvalde, Texas, schoolhouse constabulary serviceman accused of not doing much to prevention lives successful the 2022 massacre that near 19 students and 2 teachers dead. 

Adrian Gonzales has pleaded not blameworthy to 29 counts of kid abandonment oregon endangerment pursuing the onslaught astatine Robb Elementary. He could beryllium sentenced to a maximum of 2 years successful situation if he’s convicted. 

The indictment accuses Gonzales of putting children successful "imminent danger" of wounded oregon decease by failing to engage, distract oregon hold the shooter and by not pursuing his training. The allegations besides said helium did not spell toward the gunfire contempt proceeding shots and being told the shooter’s location. 

Terrified students wrong the classrooms called 911 and parents extracurricular begged for involution by officers, immoderate of whom could perceive shots being fired portion they stood successful a hallway, according to The Associated Press. An probe yet recovered that 77 minutes passed from the clip authorities arrived until the tactical squad breached a schoolroom and killed the shooter, identified arsenic Salvador Ramos. 

FORMER UVALDE SCHOOL POLICE CHIEF, OFFICER INDICTED OVER RESPONSE TO ELEMENTARY MASS SHOOTING

Adrian Gonzales, a erstwhile constabulary serviceman for schools successful Uvalde, Texas. On the close is simply a memorial dedicated to the 19 children and 2 adults killed connected May 24, 2022, during a wide shooting astatine Robb Elementary School successful Uvalde. (Uvalde County Sheriff's Office/AP/Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Gonzales’ lawyer has said the serviceman tried to prevention the children that day. According to a state review, Gonzales told investigators that erstwhile constabulary realized determination were students inactive sitting successful different classrooms, helium helped evacuate them. 

Gonzales and erstwhile Uvalde schools constabulary main Pete Arredondo are the lone 2 officers to look transgression charges implicit the response. Arredondo’s proceedings has not been scheduled. 

FLORIDA JURY FINDS FORMER PARKLAND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SCOT PETERSON NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS

Officials show a enactment extracurricular the Nueces County Courthouse successful Corpus Christi, Texas, wherever assemblage enactment begins for the State of Texas v. Adrian Gonzales, a erstwhile constabulary serviceman for schools successful Uvalde, connected Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.  (Eric Gay/AP)

At the petition of Gonzales’ attorneys, the proceedings was moved to Corpus Christi aft they argued Gonzales could not person a just proceedings successful Uvalde. 

The proceedings is expected to past astir 2 weeks, Judge Sid Harle said. Before seating the assemblage Monday, helium told respective 100 imaginable jurors that the tribunal was not looking for those who cognize thing astir the shooting but wants jurors who tin beryllium impartial. 

Among the imaginable witnesses are FBI agents, Texas Rangers, exigency dispatchers and schoolhouse employees. Families of students killed successful the massacre are besides among those who could testify.

Twelve jurors person been selected for the case, on with 4 alternates, FOX7 Austin reported.

Crosses with the names of shooting victims are placed extracurricular Robb Elementary School successful Uvalde, Texas, connected May 26, 2022.  (Jae C. Hong/AP/File)

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The outlet added that opening statements are acceptable to statesman Tuesday astatine 9:30 a.m. section time. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.