A faculty cop in Uvalde, Texas, stood by as a gunman massacred 19 college students and two academics — with the officer solely lastly getting into the constructing “after the harm had been accomplished,” a prosecutor charged throughout opening statements Tuesday.
Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde faculties officer, didn’t attempt to cease or distract the teenager shooter, Salvador Ramos, when he noticed him exterior Robb Elementary, despite the fact that a trainer had signaled within the route of Ramos for Gonzales, particular prosecutor Invoice Turner instructed jurors in Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas.
As a substitute, Gonzales waited till minutes later to enter the varsity “after the harm had been accomplished,” Turner alleged.
Gonzales is considered one of two officers who prosecutors took the uncommon step of bringing prison costs in opposition to for allegedly failing to do extra to avoid wasting lives in one of many deadliest college shootings in US historical past.
No others have been prosecuted within the case despite the fact that lots of of legislation enforcement brokers waited 77 minutes earlier than breaking into the classroom and killing Ramos.
Gonzales pleaded not responsible to 29 counts of kid abandonment.
His lawyer, Nico LaHood, in his personal opening statements instructed jurors his shopper helped clear children from the varsity as different cops had been arriving.
“The federal government desires it to appear like he simply sat there,” LaHood instructed the jury. “He did what he might, with what he knew on the time.”
And Gonzales’ different lawyer, Jason Goss, stated Gonzales was attempting to determine the place Ramos was — all whereas believing he was being fired at whereas he wasn’t carrying protecting gear.
“This isn’t a person ready round. This isn’t a person failing to behave,” Goss stated.
Goss additionally implied that Gonzales is only one of some 400 legislation enforcement that could possibly be blamed within the incident, including that the varsity safety workforce was understaffed and the police response coverage was missing.
And prosecutors would unfairly search to make use of graphic and emotional images of the scene to get a conviction of Gonzales, Goss stated.
“What the prosecution desires you to do is get mad at Adrian,” Goss stated. “They’re going to attempt to play in your feelings.”
“The monster who harm these kids is lifeless,” he stated. “He didn’t get this justice.”
However Turner stated as a part of Gonzales’ police coaching, as a cop of 10 years, he ought to have ran towards hazard.
In the meantime, terrified academics and youngsters had been compelled to cover inside their school rooms and seize scissors “to confront a gunman … They did as that they had been educated,” Turner stated throughout his emotional statements.
Velma Lisa Duran, the sister of trainer Irma Garcia who was killed within the ambush, attended court docket Tuesday and ripped Gonzales in an announcement to reporters.
“He might have stopped him, however he didn’t need to be the goal,” Duran stated.
She additionally accused cops of doing nothing whereas her sister “died defending kids.”
The trial is predicted to final for 2 weeks.
Gonzales faces as much as two years behind bars if he’s convicted within the distinctive and uncommon prosecution.
Uvalde faculties police chief Pete Arredondo is the second officer charged within the case. A trial date but to be set in his case.
With Put up wires
