UVALDE, Texas — The previous chief of police for schools in Uvalde, Texas, facing accusations of failing to respond adequately during the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022, is set to return to court on Thursday.
Pete Arredondo, aged 52, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges related to child endangerment and abandonment. It is uncommon for law enforcement personnel to be brought to trial for their actions during a school shooting incident.
The shooting, which occurred on May 24, 2022, resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers, marking it as one of the most catastrophic school shootings in American history. The response from law enforcement, which involved close to 400 officers from various agencies, has been heavily criticized for its lack of effectiveness.
Arredondo’s legal team contends that he is being wrongfully prosecuted for attempting to save lives, including his directive to evacuate portions of the school. They claim that pursuing this indictment could set a precedent affecting future law enforcement decisions.
“It cannot be deemed a crime for Mr. Arredondo to evacuate some children before others are rescued,” stated his attorneys in a court document. “If the state is permitted to proceed in this fashion, it should instill fear in all peace officers across Texas.”
Prosecutors in Uvalde County have urged the judge to dismiss Arredondo’s assertions.
Additionally, another officer from the Uvalde schools, Adrian Gonzales, who was present during the shooting, has been indicted on related charges and has also pleaded not guilty. Together, they are the only officers facing charges regarding the police response at the scene. Gonzales is also anticipated to attend the upcoming hearing in Uvalde.
It remains uncertain whether Judge Sid Harle will respond to Arredondo’s request on Thursday or at a later date. The hearing is expected to address various defense requests for access to evidence, witnesses, and other pretrial issues.
In the midst of chaotic conditions, terrified students and teachers made distress calls to 911, while numerous officers remained in the hallway uncertain about the next steps to take. Over an hour after the shooting began, a specialized team finally breached the classroom and neutralized the assailant.
The charges against Arredondo allege that he disregarded his training for active shooter situations, causing unnecessary delays while the shooter was actively “hunting victims.” He purportedly received communications that children were hurt and that a teacher had been shot.
Instead of confronting the gunman immediately, the indictment alleges that Arredondo requested a SWAT team, instructed initial responding officers to withdraw from the premises, and briefly attempted negotiations with the shooter.
Prosecutors assert that once Arredondo became aware of the threat to students, “Texas law necessitates immediate action to extricate the children from danger.”
Similarly, Gonzales is facing accusations stemming from a 29-count indictment, which alleges he failed to protect the students who perished as well as those who survived. His legal representatives have yet to request the dismissal of his charges but may consider doing so in the future.
Both Arredondo and Gonzales risk facing up to two years in prison for each charge, and both maintain their not guilty pleas.