'Thankful to the jury': Ex-Uvalde school police officer speaks for first time after ‘not guilty’ verdict

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales spoke in a press conference after being found not guilty on 29 counts of child abandonment in the trial for the Robb Elementary shooting. Gonzales faces 29 counts of child abandonment and endangerment, with prosecutors arguing he ignored active shooter training while the defense labeled him a scapegoat.

Gonzales Breaks Silence

What they're saying:

"First things first, I want to start by thanking God for this, my family and my wife, and these guys right here. He put them in my path, you know, and I’m just thankful for that. Thank you to the jury for considering all the evidence and making that verdict."

A reporter asked Gonzales if there was anything he would like to say to the families. To which Gonzales responded with, "No, not right now." 

Gonzales then stepped back and allowed his attorneys to continue speaking at the press conference.

Before the press conference concluded, Gonzales kept it simple about the next steps for him.

"Picking up the pieces and moving forward. That's it," said Gonzales.

Family of two victims on the ‘not guilty’ verdict

The other side:

FOX 4’s Casey Stegall was given statements from two of the victim’s family members following the ‘not guilty’ verdict. 

Jesse Rizzo is the uncle of 9-year-old Jackie Cazares, one of the 19 victims killed at the school in May 2022. The statements read: 

"Although we respect the jury, we disagree with the verdict.  A not guilty verdict sends the wrong message to officers. That is, you can stand by and allow children to be murdered, and you will not be held accountable.  Absolute devastation and injustice."

Another statement provided to FOX 4’s Casey Stegall was from Berlinda Arreola, the step-grandmother of 10-year-old Amerie Jo Jarza, another student killed at Robb Elementary School. Her statement reads as follows:

"There are no winners. We have ALL lost, including Adrian. He may have been found not guilty, but he will never escape May 24th. He will ALWAYS be known as the Cop who failed our loved ones."

Trial Highlights: 10 days of testimony

The backstory:

After nine days of testimony from 36 witnesses and a trial that reignited the painful memories of the May 2022 Robb Elementary School massacre, Gonzales remained stoic throughout most of the proceedings. However, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, he appeared to wipe away tears for the first time as a medical examiner and Dr. Cherie Hauptmeier detailed the horrific wounds sustained by the children.

Gonzales ultimately declined to testify in his own defense before his legal team rested their case on Tuesday, just one day before the not guilty verdict,

Key moments that shaped the trial included:

• Survivor Testimony: Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher in classroom 111, gave testimony about playing dead to survive while all of his students were killed. Another teacher, Elsa Avila, recalled the moment she was shot and how her fourth-grade students tried to comfort her.
• The Training Conflict: Retired Dallas officer Michael Witzgall, who trained Gonzales, testified that the goal of training is to keep a gunman moving away from "soft targets" like schools. The defense countered that charging in alone would have put officers at a "higher risk."
• Bodycam Evidence: Jurors were shown body camera footage from various officers, providing a first-person view of the 70-minute delay before the tactical team finally breached the classroom.
• Emotional Outbursts: The trial was twice threatened by a mistrial. Once due to a "discrepancy" in a teacher's testimony, and again after the sister of a victim was escorted out following an emotional outburst in the galley.

Previous Uvalde trial coverage

Dig deeper:

Read more:

• Jury selected for trial of Uvalde officer charged with child endangerment
• Uvalde school shooting trial closes for day; set to resume Thursday
• Uvalde school shooting trial: Judge denies mistrial motion after 'discrepancies' in teacher's testimony
• Uvalde shooting trial: Judge tosses teacher’s emotional testimony
• Uvalde shooting trial: Mother of victim testifies as prosecution of former police officer continues
• Surviving teacher testifies in 2nd week of Uvalde school shooting trial
• Uvalde School Shooting Trial: Judge threatens mistrial after courtroom outburst
• Uvalde shooting trial: Former officer appears to wipe tears as witness describes wounds
• Uvalde school shooting trial: Court recesses early Thursday for juror emergency
• Uvalde school shooting trial: Testimony continues as state prosecutes ex-police officer
• Uvalde school shooting trial: Both sides rest, Adrian Gonzales declines to testify
• Uvalde school shooting trial: Closing arguments
• Uvalde school shooting trial: Jury finds Gonzales 'not guilty' on all 29 counts