Prosecution and defense rest in trial of former Uvalde school police officer

From Texas Public Radio:

The trial of former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police officer Adrian Gonzales entered its final phase Tuesday in Corpus Christi, with both the prosecution and defense resting their cases after days of emotional and at times contentious testimony.

After a recess at the Nueces County Courthouse, Presiding Judge Sid Harle informed jurors that both sides had concluded their presentations. The jury was then dismissed for the day as attorneys prepared for closing arguments and the case moved closer to deliberation.

Gonzales is charged with 29 counts of abandoning or endangering a child for his actions during the May 24, 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where 19 students and two teachers were killed. He has pleaded not guilty.

Much of the testimony focused on Gonzales’ location and actions in the early minutes of the attack, and whether he had an opportunity to move into the school building and confront the gunman. Prosecutors argued Gonzales was among the first officers on scene and failed to take action that could have disrupted the shooting. Their case relied on timelines built from body-camera footage, radio traffic, and witness accounts.

Several witnesses played central roles in shaping the state’s case. Robb Elementary teacher Stephanie Hale testified about what she said she saw near the school during the early moments of the shooting, placing the gunman close to the building. Her testimony prompted immediate objections from defense attorneys and briefly halted proceedings while the judge considered a mistrial request. The motion was denied, though portions of her testimony were later excluded and jurors were instructed to disregard them.

The trial was also marked by several delays. Proceedings were paused while the judge considered, and ultimately denied, a defense motion for mistrial. Testimony was later interrupted by a juror’s personal emergency, and the court was dark for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday before testimony resumed.

The defense called a limited number of witnesses, including a policing expert who testified about perceptual challenges officers face under extreme stress, such as tunnel vision and delayed processing. Defense attorneys also called a civilian witness who said she saw the shooter outside the school near parked vehicles, testimony they argued supported the claim that Gonzales may not have known the shooter had already entered the building. Gonzales did not testify.

The trial was moved from Uvalde to Nueces County after a judge granted a change of venue, citing concerns that extensive publicity surrounding the shooting could make it difficult to seat an impartial jury.

Closing arguments and jury deliberations are expected to begin Wednesday. The verdict will determine whether Gonzales is held criminally responsible for his actions — or inaction — during one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

Former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo, who investigators have described as the presumed incident commander during the shooting, is the only other law enforcement officer facing criminal charges related to the response. Arredondo is awaiting a separate trial, extending what has already been a long wait for accountability for the victims’ families.

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