Nearly four years after the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School, which resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers, former Uvalde school police officer Adrian Gonzalez has come forward to discuss his acquittal. He was charged with 29 counts related to child endangerment and abandonment but has stated that he feels no regrets about his actions on that fateful day, May 24, 2022.
The jury took just seven hours to reach its verdict. Gonzalez did not testify during the trial, although his lawyer presented two witnesses on his behalf.
The investigation indicated that it took authorities 77 minutes from their arrival at the scene to engage the gunman, which led to significant criticism of the police response in the aftermath.
“It’s easy for people to say what they would do when they’re not in that situation,” Gonzalez expressed. He was the first to arrive at the school when the shooting occurred, noting that the shooter, Salvador Ramos, was no longer visible when he received orders from his commander to leave the building.
“I did my best based on what I knew at the time,” he said, adding that he has no regrets because he followed the orders given to him by the chief.
Gonzalez also acknowledged that he understands the dissatisfaction from the victims’ families regarding the outcome but maintained that he is praying for everyone affected, including the families and the community.
He expressed a feeling of being unfairly targeted in the prosecution, noting that others on the scene were not held to the same level of scrutiny. “When the video started playing, it felt like I was singled out. They seemed to make excuses for everyone else,” he remarked.
After the verdict, Gonzalez expressed his gratitude, thanking God, his family, and the jury for their consideration of the evidence.
In related news, former Uvalde police chief Pete Arredondo faces charges connected to the shooting, including child endangerment, but has pleaded not guilty. A trial date for Arredondo has yet to be determined.
