Former Uvalde School Police Chief Charged for Abandoning Survivors Pete Arredondo, the former school police chief in Uvalde, Texas, has been charged with 10 counts of “abandoning and endangering a child” in connection with the May 24th mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Arredondo is accused of failing to take immediate action to engage the gunman and protect the 19 children and two teachers killed during the rampage. The indictment alleges that he “knowingly, intentionally, and recklessly” abandoned the victims by failing to communicate with other law enforcement agencies, request additional support, or confront the assailant. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Arredondo was the incident commander at the scene but delayed breaching the fourth-grade classroom where the gunman was barricaded for over an hour. The delay allowed the attacker to inflict further carnage on the trapped children. The charges against Arredondo stem from a grand jury investigation that concluded that multiple law enforcement officers made “egregious” mistakes during the response to the shooting. The indictment alleges that Arredondo’s actions “put the lives of the children and others at risk” and constitute a “gross abuse of authority.” Arredondo’s attorney, George Hyde, has maintained his client’s innocence. He has criticized the investigation as biased and has accused the Texas Rangers of scapegoating Arredondo to avoid broader accountability for the law enforcement failures that day. The indictment of the former police chief is the latest development in the aftermath of the Uvalde shooting, which has sparked national outrage and calls for accountability and reform. The incident has highlighted deficiencies in police training and response protocols, and has led to investigations by multiple levels of government. Arredondo faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the charges. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on August 29th.Former Uvalde School Police Chief Indicted for Child Abandonment and EndangermentFormer Uvalde School Police Chief Indicted for Child Abandonment and Endangerment Former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo has been indicted on 10 counts of child abandonment and endangerment in connection with the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The indictments stem from his alleged failure to act appropriately during the shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers. Charges Against Arredondo The indictment alleges that Arredondo: * Failed to identify the shooter as an active shooter * Failed to respond as trained by calling SWAT and delaying law enforcement’s response * Chose to negotiate with the gunman rather than confront him * Failed to provide keys and infringement tools * Could not determine if the classroom door was locked * Did not follow the school district’s active shooter policy * Failed to develop an immediate plan of action Former Officer Also Charged Former Uvalde School District police officer Adrian Gonzales was also charged with 19 counts of endangering a child. He is accused of failing to block the gunman’s path and failing to advance toward the shooting, despite having time to respond. Reaction from Victims’ Families The families of victims expressed mixed reactions to the indictments. Some said it provided some accountability, while others believed it was not enough. Justice Department Report and Ongoing Investigation The Justice Department released a report earlier this year finding “critical flaws” in the law enforcement response to the shooting. Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell began her own investigation and convened a grand jury to review evidence against hundreds of officers. The investigation is ongoing. Statement from Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District The district released a statement expressing condolences to the families and victims, and acknowledging the ongoing impact of the shooting.Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo has been charged with 10 counts of “abandoning and endangering” Robb Elementary School survivors during the May 24 shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers, according to court documents filed Thursday. The charges are misdemeanors, each punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Arredondo, who was fired from his position in August, has been the subject of intense scrutiny for his actions during the shooting. He has been accused of failing to take command of the scene and delaying the law enforcement response. The charges against Arredondo come as the Texas Department of Public Safety is conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting. The results of that investigation are expected to be released in the coming weeks. In addition to the criminal charges, Arredondo is also facing a civil lawsuit from the families of some of the victims. The lawsuit alleges that Arredondo’s actions led to the deaths of their loved ones. Arredondo has not yet entered a plea to the charges. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 21.