Texas officials released the mugshot of Pete Arredondo, the former Uvalde police chief, arrested on charges related to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Arredondo, who was the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police chief, faces 10 charges of child endangerment/abandonment. According to Uvalde Sheriff Ruben Nolasco, he was booked into the county jail and later released on bond.
An indictment obtained by CNN claims Arredondo failed to identify the situation as an active shooting and did not intervene, placing children at risk of "imminent danger of bodily injury, death, physical impairment and mental impairment." Arredondo and former school officer Adrian Gonzales are the first officers to face charges in the incident. Gonzales faces similar charges.
The shooting occurred on May 24, 2022, when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary, killing 19 children and two teachers. The gunman remained in the classroom for over 70 minutes before police intervened. A total of 376 officers, including state police, Uvalde police, school officers, and U.S. Border Patrol agents, responded to the scene.
Arredondo, who was the on-site commander during the attack, was fired three months later. Other responding officers were also dismissed. Joshua Gutierrez, who replaced Arredondo, resigned in May and worked his last day on Wednesday.
This incident explores the delayed response and failure to act by police , leading to significant scrutiny and legal action against those responsible for the safety of the children at Robb Elementary. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath and seeks accountability for the tragic loss of life.
Link: Newsweek
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