Pete Arredondo, the former police chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, and Adrian Gonzales, another former school district police officer, have been indicted by a grand jury on charges of child endangerment related to their response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting.
Arredondo, 52, was arrested on Thursday and faces 10 counts of abandoning/endangering a child. The indictment claims he failed to identify the incident as an active shooter situation, delayed calling SWAT, did not establish a command center, and prioritized evacuation over stopping the shooter. It took 77 minutes for officers to enter a classroom and confront the gunman.
New Uvalde school shooting allegations
More than two years after the deadly incident, the first criminal charges have been filed over law enforcement’s response to the Robb Elementary School shooting. Former Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former Officer Adrian Gonzales were arrested.
UVALDE, TEXAS – More than two years after the deadly incident, the first criminal charges have been filed over law enforcement’s response to the Robb Elementary School shooting.
Charges for former Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo include 10 counts of child abandonment/endangerment.
Each count named a child survivor. The indictment claims Arredondo, “by acts and omissions, willfully, knowingly, recklessly and criminally negligent,” placed the children in “imminent danger of bodily injury, death, bodily harm and mental impairment.”
Pete Arredondo (Courtesy: Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office)
The indictment accuses Arredondo of failing to recognize the incident as an active shooter situation, calling SWAT instead, which caused a delay. The indictment also claims he failed to follow an active shooter plan developed by the school district by not setting up a command center and prioritizing the evacuation of students over stopping the shooter.
It took 77 minutes for officers to enter the classroom and confront the shooter.
In May, the victims’ families announced they had reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde and would move forward with a lawsuit against state and local officials.
Pete Arredondo Convicted by Jury
Former Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo was indicted in May 2022 on charges related to the Robb Elementary School shooting.
“Like the rest of the Uvalde community, we have only learned of the grand jury’s decision to issue two indictments. We have no information other than what is being reported by the media,” a CISD spokesperson said. The statement was shared with FOX 7. “As we have done and continue to do, we extend our sincere sympathies to all who have lost loved ones. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this challenging situation.”
State Senator Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, also released a statement in response to the allegations, calling for DPS to be held accountable as well.
“What happened in Uvalde two years ago was unthinkable. Nearly 400 officers failed to confront a teenager with an AR-15 for 77 agonizing minutes, while children and teachers endured terror as officers armed to the teeth stood in the hallways and outside the building. Texas Dept. Of Public Safety’s gross incompetence and their cowardice will forever be a stain on this tragedy. By falsely blaming one teacher for pinning the entire disaster on one ignorant officer, the Texas Department of Public Safety did nothing in Uvalde but we root for them. Cover-up and keep the truth, so that every officer who stood down that day, from Pete Arredondo to Steve McCraw, can’t rest until we get justice. The top law enforcement agency in the state of Texas He should be held accountable for the mistakes and lying every day about how the massacre unfolded.”
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FOX 7 reached out to DPS for comment and did not receive a response.
Arredondo turned himself into the Uvalde County Jail on Thursday and was released on bond.
Another former school district police officer, Adrian Gonzalez, was also named in the indictment. Details of the charge have not yet been made clear.
According to the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales turned himself in on Friday, June 28. He was arrested on 29 counts of child endangerment.
He posted his $10,000 bail, and was released from the Uvalde County Jail.
Adrian Gonzales (Courtesy: Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office)
A criminal defense attorney told FOX 7 at the trial that the defense’s strategy will most likely consist of convincing the jury that Arredondo Did not behave “recklessly”. In his response to the shooting.
The attorney also noted that it is very easy to go back to a grand jury and amend or add to existing charges.
It is unclear whether additional charges will be brought against other members of law enforcement.