Former Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales faced damning testimony Tuesday as his trial for allegedly abandoning children during one of America’s deadliest school shootings entered its third day in Corpus Christi.
Gonzales, among the first officers to arrive at Robb Elementary during the May 2022 massacre that claimed 21 lives, has pleaded not guilty to 29 felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child. Prosecutors argue he had both the training and opportunity to intervene before the gunman entered the school.
Eyewitnesses Recount Horror
Amy Marin, who coordinated the after-school program at Robb Elementary, provided harrowing details about her 911 call as she spotted the gunman approaching campus. “He threw a gun, he threw a bag, he threw another gun (and) he jumped the fence,” Marin testified, her voice wavering. “He picks up what we threw, and he’s walking towards the campus.”
Former educator Lynn Deming described the gut-wrenching moment she instructed her students to hide on the classroom floor — a decision she later feared may have put them in greater danger. “I thought I’d put the kids in the worst place… because he was shooting through the window and the kids were directly across,” she recalled, fighting back tears.
The trial has already seen unexpected twists. On day two, Judge Benjamin Euresti ruled that former third-grade teacher Stephanie Hale’s testimony would be thrown out due to discrepancies, though he emphasized she had done nothing wrong, according to court records.
Prosecutors: Officer Failed His Duty
What exactly was Gonzales supposed to do when faced with an active shooter? Special prosecutor Bill Turner didn’t mince words during opening statements.
“We’re not asking Adrian Gonzales to commit suicide,” Turner stated emphatically. “He was trained to go to the corner of a building and distract, delay, and impede the gunman while help is arriving. So why are we here? When a child is in danger and calls 911, we have the right to expect a response.”
Prosecutors maintain that Gonzales heard gunshots and possessed critical information about the shooter’s location but failed to act, reports indicate. The former school resource officer was allegedly among the first law enforcement personnel on scene, arriving before the shooter entered the building.
The trial continues amid lingering public outrage over the response that day. Nearly 400 officers ultimately responded to Robb Elementary, yet the gunman remained active for 77 minutes before being neutralized — a delay that has prompted multiple investigations and policy changes across Texas.
Day three of testimony continues with additional witnesses expected to take the stand in what could be a weeks-long trial. For the Uvalde community still reeling from unimaginable loss, each day in court reopens wounds that may never fully heal.
