Former Uvalde School Police Chief Indicted on Child Endangerment Charges in 2022 Robb Elementary School Shooting

The former Uvalde schools police chief and another former officer have been indicted over their role in the delayed police response to the 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School. This tragic event left 19 children and two teachers dead, marking one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

Pete Arredondo, the former Uvalde schools police chief, was booked and released from jail following his indictment on 10 counts of child endangerment, according to Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco. "Arredondo was booked on 10 counts of child endangerment and released," Nolasco confirmed in a text message to The Associated Press.

In addition to Arredondo, former school officer Adrian Gonzales was also indicted by a grand jury on multiple counts of felony child endangerment and abandonment. These indictments mark the first criminal charges brought against officers in connection with the Robb Elementary School shooting.

The shooting occurred on May 24, 2022, when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a fourth-grade classroom. Despite the immediate threat, police waited more than 70 minutes before entering the classroom to confront and neutralize the gunman. During this period, the gunman continued to fire his AR-15-style rifle, resulting in the tragic loss of life.

The slow and criticized police response has been the subject of numerous reports and investigations. A report by Texas lawmakers described the response as a failure to "prioritize saving innocent lives over their own safety." The Justice Department's report echoed this sentiment, detailing "cascading failures" by the police, who waited far too long to confront the gunman and failed to establish an effective command post.

In response to the indictments, Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell confirmed the charges but did not immediately return messages seeking further comment. Efforts to reach the former attorney for Arredondo were unsuccessful, and contact information for Gonzales could not be found.

The indictments come over two years after the shooting, which saw a massive response from 376 law enforcement officers, including state police, Uvalde police, school officers, and U.S. Border Patrol agents. Despite the large presence, officers failed to act swiftly, leading to severe criticism and the eventual firing of several officers involved in the response.

Robb Elementary School, the site of the tragic shooting, has since been permanently closed. In October 2023, the city broke ground on a new school, symbolizing a step towards healing for the community. However, Uvalde remains divided between residents who seek accountability and those who wish to move past the tragedy.

The indictments and the slow police response have left lingering questions and a community grappling with the aftermath of a harrowing event. As legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served and that such failures are never repeated.

This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further developments on this critical issue affecting the Uvalde community and beyond.

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