A Texas jury acquitted former Uvalde school police officer Adrian Gonzales, who faced trial for allegedly failing to act during the 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
The jury returned a verdict on Wednesday at around 7:15 p.m., finding Gonzales not guilty on 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment after 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 30 seconds of deliberation. Gonzales, who faced up to two years in prison, thanked God, his family, his wife, and his legal team after the verdict.
“First things first,” Gonzales said. “I want to start by thanking God, my family, my wife, these guys here [legal team]. Thank you to the jury for considering all the evidence and making that verdict.”
Prosecutors alleged the 52-year-old, a 10-year police veteran who had led an active shooter training course two months prior, abandoned his training and failed to stop gunman Salvador Ramos before he entered the school. Over two weeks, witnesses described the massacre’s horrors, and graphic photos of the scene were presented.
The trial took place in Corpus Christi at Gonzales’s attorneys’ request, who argued he could not receive a fair trial in Uvalde.
During closing arguments, prosecutors urged the jury to convict to emphasize that law enforcement must protect children during active threats.
Gonzales did not testify. He and his lawyers maintained he never froze during the chaotic early moments and never saw the gunman. They argued that three officers on the other side of the school also saw the gunman outside but did not fire.
Body camera footage showed Gonzales as one of the first officers entering a shadowy, smoke-filled hallway, attempting to reach the killer in a classroom. His attorneys said he risked his life in what they called a “hallway of death” while others hesitated to enter.
Attorney Jason Goss argued that a conviction could pressure police to be “perfect” in crises, potentially making them more hesitant in the future.
Gonzales and former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo were among the first on the scene and remain the only officers facing criminal charges over the slow response. Arredondo’s trial has not yet been scheduled.