Former Uvalde officer accused of not protecting students during 2022 shooting goes on trial

"Families of students killed in the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre are among those who could testify at the trial of a police officer who was part of the hesitant law enforcement response and is charged with failing to protect children from the teenage gunman. Opening statements were set to begin Tuesday in what is a rare case of charges being brought against an officer who is accused of not doing more to save lives. Authorities waited more than an hour to confront the shooter."

"Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde schools officer who was among the first to respond to what was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, has pleaded not guilty. His attorney has said the officer tried to save children that day. Gonzales faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment and could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison if he's convicted."

"A tactical team of officers eventually went into the classroom and killed the shooter. The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary. An investigation found 77 minutes passed from the time authorities arrived until the tactical team breached the classroom and killed Salvador Ramos, who was obsessed with violence and notoriety in the months leading up to the shooting."

Families of Robb Elementary victims may testify at the trial of a former Uvalde schools officer charged with failing to protect children during the 2022 mass shooting. Opening statements were scheduled to begin as authorities acknowledged that officers waited more than an hour to confront the gunman. Adrian Gonzales, one of the first responders, pleaded not guilty and faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment, carrying a maximum two-year sentence if convicted. He and former schools police chief Pete Arredondo are the only officers criminally charged. Investigations found 77 minutes elapsed from arrival until the tactical team breached the classroom after the shooter killed 19 students and two teachers.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles