A Texas school police officer waited outside as children died inside, refusing to act until it was too late.
Adrian Gonzales, the first officer on the scene in 2022, did not try to distract or stop the gunman before he opened fire inside Robb Elementary's classrooms. He only went inside minutes later when the damage had already been done, prosecutor Bill Turner said during opening statements of a trial.
Prosecutors have focused on Gonzales' actions and claimed that as first responders arrived, hundreds of local, state, and federal officers waited more than an hour to confront the gunman.
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty in the case against him, which is rare for charges being brought against an officer who is accused of failing to act during a school shooting. His defense attorneys disputed accusations that he did nothing at the chaotic scene, saying Gonzales helped evacuate children as other police arrived.
The government accuses Gonzales of child abandonment or endangerment, with prosecutors claiming he had extensive active shooter training but chose not to act. Defense attorneys say their client did what he could, given the circumstances.
Velma Lisa Duran, sister of teacher Irma Garcia who was among the 19 students and two teachers killed in the attack, said that authorities waited over three years ago while her sister "died protecting children."
Prosecutors will have to show more than emotions to secure a conviction. Juries are often reluctant to convict law enforcement officers for failing to act, as seen after the Parkland school massacre in 2018.
Adrian Gonzales, the first officer on the scene in 2022, did not try to distract or stop the gunman before he opened fire inside Robb Elementary's classrooms. He only went inside minutes later when the damage had already been done, prosecutor Bill Turner said during opening statements of a trial.
Prosecutors have focused on Gonzales' actions and claimed that as first responders arrived, hundreds of local, state, and federal officers waited more than an hour to confront the gunman.
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty in the case against him, which is rare for charges being brought against an officer who is accused of failing to act during a school shooting. His defense attorneys disputed accusations that he did nothing at the chaotic scene, saying Gonzales helped evacuate children as other police arrived.
The government accuses Gonzales of child abandonment or endangerment, with prosecutors claiming he had extensive active shooter training but chose not to act. Defense attorneys say their client did what he could, given the circumstances.
Velma Lisa Duran, sister of teacher Irma Garcia who was among the 19 students and two teachers killed in the attack, said that authorities waited over three years ago while her sister "died protecting children."
Prosecutors will have to show more than emotions to secure a conviction. Juries are often reluctant to convict law enforcement officers for failing to act, as seen after the Parkland school massacre in 2018.
... it's like, what is going on with these police officers? Are they really that trained or do they just need a refresher course? I mean, if someone's training includes active shooter scenarios, shouldn't they know how to act when their back is against the wall? 
. And now we're at trial, trying to figure out what his role was in it all... did he really help evacuate the kids as others arrived or is that just a cop-out tactic? 
. But still, we need to get some accountability for people like this - it's just not right that kids died while waiting for someone to act 
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This is some messed up stuff. Can't believe an officer was just chillin' outside while kids were gettin' shot up inside... I mean what's that all about? And now they're tryna convict him for not actin' fast enough 
. But like, we gotta see the tape and hear from witnesses before we start pointin' fingers. Can't let emotions rule this case...
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