Uvalde school shooting trial: Verdict is in for former officer Adrian Gonzales

Former Uvalde CISD officer found not guilty: Full

Former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales was found not guilty on all 29 counts of endangering or abandoning a child.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - After nine days of testimony and a trial that reignited the painful memories of the May 2022 Robb Elementary School massacre, a jury has reached a verdict in the case of former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales.

Gonzales, the first officer to face criminal charges in connection to the response that day, was charged with 29 counts of abandoning or endangering a child.

The verdict

The jury, which received the case just after noon on Wednesday following closing arguments, has found Gonzales not guilty on all counts.

Following the verdict, the court held a press conference to discuss the decision. During the conference, Gonzales spoke for the first time in the trial.

Adrian Gonzales speaks for first time in Uvalde trial

Former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales spoke in a press conference after being found not guilty of abandonment in the trial for the Robb Elementary shooting.

"I want to start by thanking God for this. And my family, my wife. And these guys right here," Gonzales said, motioning to his defense counsel. "He put them in my path, you know, and I'm just thankful for that. Thank you, the jury, for considering all the evidence and making that verdict. Thank you."

Later in the conference, Gonzales said his plan going forward was simply, "Picking up the pieces and moving forward. That's it."

Press conference following Uvalde shooting trial: Full

The court held a press conference following the not guilty verdict for Adrian Gonzales, accused of abandoning the victims of the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde.

What's next:

The other officer charged in the police response is Pete Arredondo. His trial has yet to be scheduled.

Closing arguments

The final day of the trial began at approximately 9 a.m. with specific instructions from the judge to the jury. Prosecutors used their final moments to reiterate that they believe Gonzales failed to follow his active shooter training, which dictates that officers must move toward the sound of gunfire to neutralize a threat.

Uvalde school shooting trial: Prosecution closing arguments

Both sides presented closing arguments on Wednesday in the trial of Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales, after resting their cases on Tuesday. Here is the prosecution's closing arguments.

"As citizens, we have the right to expect that when we call for help, we have the right to expect somebody that has put on the badge and put on a gun and put protect and serve on the side of their car will do that when we call," said Special prosecutor Bill Turner.

The state argued that by failing to act, Gonzales endangered the lives of the 19 students who were killed and 10 others who survived the attack. "This case isn't about handing out participation trophies," prosecutors told the jury, emphasizing that the former officer’s inaction had lethal consequences.

"If it's appropriate to stand outside hearing 100 gunshots while children are being slaughtered, that is your decision to tell the state of Texas and by the same time if that is not appropriate. That is not how we expect officers that are charged with the duty of protecting children to act," said Turner.

Uvalde school shooting trial: 'This case isn't about handing out participation trophies'

Prosecutors took nine days and three dozen witnesses to try and prove to the jury that Adrian Gonzales failed to follow his training at Robb Elementary School, endangering the 19 students who died and an additional 10 surviving students.

Conversely, the defense team maintained that Gonzales was being used as a scapegoat for a systemic failure involving nearly 400 responding officers.

"The government has decided the power of the state has decided that he has to pay for the failures of that day, for the mistakes of that day and all the pain of that day," said defense attorney, Jason Goss.

Uvalde school shooting trial: Defense closing statements part 1

Both sides presented closing arguments on Wednesday in the trial of Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales, after resting their cases on Tuesday. Here is the defense's closing arguments.

Defense attorney, Jason Goss, argued that the memory of the lives lost will not be honored by convicting Gonzales. He said a guilty verdict could impact how law enforcement responds to these situations moving forward.

"We can't have law enforcement feel that way, feel like they are not perfect if they don't make a perfect decision. That's where they’ll end up. There's nothing that's going to bring these children back. There's nothing that will solve that pain not that," said Goss.

They argued that Gonzales did the best he could with the information he had, claiming he radioed for help and assisted with evacuations.

Uvalde school shooting trial: Defense closing arguments Part 2

After a 10 min break, the defense continues their closing arguments.

Trial Highlights: 10 days of testimony

The trial featured 36 witnesses for the prosecution and a defense that rested after just one day. Key moments that shaped the trial included:

Survivor Testimony: Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher in classroom 111, gave testimony about playing dead to survive while all of his students were killed. Another teacher, Elsa Avila, recalled the moment she was shot and how her fourth-grade students tried to comfort her.
The Training Conflict: Retired Dallas officer Michael Witzgall, who trained Gonzales, testified that the goal of training is to keep a gunman moving away from "soft targets" like schools. The defense countered that charging in alone would have put officers at a "higher risk."
Bodycam Evidence: Jurors were shown body camera footage from various officers, providing a first-person view of the 70-minute delay before the tactical team finally breached the classroom.
Emotional Outbursts: The trial was twice threatened by a mistrial. Once due to a "discrepancy" in a teacher's testimony, and again after the sister of a victim was escorted out following an emotional outburst in the galley.

Throughout most of the proceedings, Gonzales remained stoic. However, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, he appeared to wipe away tears for the first time as a medical examiner and Dr. Cherie Hauptmeier detailed the horrific wounds sustained by the children.

Gonzales ultimately declined to testify in his own defense before his legal team rested their case on Tuesday.

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