Former Uvalde faculty police officer discovered not responsible of kid endangerment in Texas faculty capturing

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A former faculty district police officer was acquitted Wednesday night of expenses he failed in his duties to confront the gunman at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary faculty throughout the vital first minutes of what would grow to be one of many deadliest faculty shootings in U.S. historical past.

Jurors deliberated for simply over seven hours earlier than discovering Adrian Gonzalez, 52, not responsible within the first trial over the hesitant legislation enforcement response to the assault that killed 19 kids and two lecturers at Robb Elementary College on Might 24, 2022.

Flanked by his legal professionals, Gonzales seemed to be combating again tears after the decision was learn.

The trial was a uncommon case within the U.S. of an officer going through legal expenses over accusations of failing to cease against the law and defend lives. Gonzales had confronted as much as two years in jail.

WATCH | Police response at school capturing slammed : Police response to Uvalde capturing referred to as ‘abject failure’

A listening to into how police dealt with the mass capturing in Uvalde, Texas, heard that police arrived simply three minutes after the gunman, however left him alone within the faculty for greater than an hour; a response one official referred to as 'an abject failure.' Shooter was at school for 77 minutes The practically three-week trial included emotional testimony from lecturers who have been shot and survived.

Prosecutors had argued that Gonzales deserted his coaching and did nothing to cease or interrupt the teenage gunman earlier than he entered the college.

Practically 400 legislation enforcement officers finally rushed to the college, the place 77 minutes handed earlier than a tactical staff lastly entered the classroom to confront and kill the gunman.

Gonzales was one in every of simply two officers indicted, angering the households of some victims who wished to see extra officers held accountable.

WATCH | Warning: Video is disturbing and incorporates the sound of gunfire: Video exhibits police response throughout Uvalde, Texas, faculty capturing

Edited hallway video and audio from Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Texas, launched by the Texas' Austin American-Statesman newspaper exhibits the shooter coming into the college. It additionally exhibits how police later arrived however stayed within the hallway each throughout and after the shootings. WARNING: This video is disturbing and incorporates the sound of gunfire. Prosecutors stated Gonzales, who didn't take the stand in his personal defence, was the primary officer on the scene.

Gonzales had beforehand insisted he did not freeze within the chaotic early moments and by no means noticed the gunman, and his legal professionals argued that three officers on the opposite facet of the college noticed the gunman nonetheless exterior and did not hearth a shot.

Physique digicam footage exhibits Gonzales being among the many first group of officers to enter a shadowy and smoky hallway attempting to succeed in the shooter in a classroom.

Opposite to the prosecution's portrayal of a reluctant officer, legal professionals for Gonzales stated he risked his life when he went right into a "hallway of dying" the place others have been unwilling to go within the early moments.

"They're attempting to feed you a coward sandwich and telling you Adrian is the one who gave it to you," defence lawyer Nico LaHood informed jurors.

Prosecutors referred to as 36 witnesses over 9 days in a trial that started on Jan. 5. Gonzales' attorneys offered simply two witnesses, beginning with a lady who labored throughout the road from the college and informed jurors she noticed the shooter ducking between vehicles and attempting to remain out of view.

Jurors heard emotional testimony from lecturers who recounted the terrifying moments when the 18-year-old gunman entered the college. Prosecutors have offered graphic images from inside the lecture rooms and questioned officers who described the chaos of the response.

Solely Gonzales and former Uvalde colleges police chief Pete Arredondo have been criminally charged for the delayed response. Arredondo was indicted on related expenses on the identical day as Gonzales in 2024, however a date for his trial has not but been set.