A Uvalde County grand jury has indicted former school district police chief Pete Arredondo and another district police officer, Adrian Gonzalez, over two years after the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, which left 19 students and two teachers dead. The indictment comes as part of an investigation into the delayed response by law enforcement officials during the shooting on May 24, 2022.
Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell initiated the grand jury investigation following widespread criticism of the law enforcement response, which took 77 minutes to eliminate the shooter. The grand jury assessed whether any of the nearly 400 officers involved should face criminal charges for their actions—or lack thereof—during the crisis.
The grand jury returned its first two indictments on Thursday, charging Arredondo and Gonzalez with abandoning or endangering a child. Arredondo, who was fired after the incident, faces ten counts of child endangerment. He turned himself in at the Uvalde County Jail on Thursday afternoon. Gonzalez, who was also fired, faces 29 counts of child endangerment, covering the 19 children who died and the ten survivors who suffered physical or psychological injuries.
Many have condemned the response time and the coordination among officers during the active shooter situation.
Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez expressed frustration that only two officers were indicted, arguing that more officers should be held accountable. “If they’re going to indict those two officers, they need to indict the 13 DPS troopers in that hallway,” Gutierrez said, referring to the Texas Department of Public Safety officers present during the incident.
District Attorney Mitchell defended the grand jury’s decision, emphasizing the thoroughness of their investigation. “They met for six months. They took a hard look at the case and were very deliberate and thoughtful in all their deliberations,” she said.
The grand jury’s decision follows a tour of the now-closed Robb Elementary School by its 12 members earlier this week, where they revisited the scene of the mass shooting. This somber visit was part of their extensive review of the events and decisions made on that fateful day.
While it remains unclear if more indictments will follow, the charges against Arredondo and Gonzalez represent a significant step in holding law enforcement accountable for their actions during one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings will continue to be closely watched as the community seeks justice for the victims and their families.
