The first day of a landmark criminal trial against a former school police officer, accused of failing to protect children during the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, was marked by raw emotion and harrowing testimony.
Courtroom Sobs as 911 Recordings Play
On Tuesday 7th January 2026, families of the victims broke down in court as prosecutors played frantic 911 calls made from inside the school during the 2022 attack. Tissue boxes were passed among the bereaved relatives, some of whom shook their heads and cried out as the recordings of the unfolding horror were heard.
Special prosecutor Bill Turner, in his opening statement, told jurors that former school officer Adrian Gonzales arrived outside the school just before the teenage gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered. Turner alleged that Gonzales failed to act even when a teacher pointed out where Ramos was firing in a parking lot. The prosecutor claimed the officer only entered Robb Elementary "after the damage had been done."
Prosecution and Defence Paint Contrasting Pictures
The prosecution focused sharply on Gonzales's actions in the critical minutes after the shooting began. They highlighted his extensive active shooter training as a ten-year police veteran. "When a child calls 911, we have a right to expect a response," Turner said emotionally, describing how children and teachers inside hid in dark classrooms and grabbed scissors to defend themselves.
Defence attorneys, however, disputed the claim that Gonzales did nothing. Defence lawyer Nico LaHood argued that his client radioed for backup and helped evacuate children as other officers arrived. "He did what he could, with what he knew at the time," LaHood stated. Another defence attorney, Jason Goss, suggested Gonzales believed he was under fire from a high-powered rifle without adequate protection, stating: "This isn't a man waiting around. This isn't a man failing to act."
A Rare Prosecution and Lingering Questions
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty to charges of child abandonment or endangerment and faces a maximum of two years in prison if convicted. He and former Uvalde schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo are the only two officers to face criminal charges over the response, despite nearly 400 officers converging on the school that day.
Velma Lisa Duran, sister of murdered teacher Irma Garcia, was among the family members questioning why more were not charged. "He could have stopped him, but he didn't want to be the target," she said of Gonzales. State and federal reviews have cited widespread failures in leadership, communication and training during the 77-minute delay before officers breached the classroom and killed Ramos.
The judge warned jurors that the testimony and evidence would be emotionally difficult. Prosecutors face a high legal bar, referencing the 2018 acquittal of a Florida deputy in a similar case. Witness testimony is set to resume on Thursday morning.
