Families and friends of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting expressed anger and frustration towards former Uvalde school district police officer Adrian Gonzales and former police chief Pete Arredondo during a procedural hearing. The shooting, which occurred in 2022 and left 19 children and two teachers dead, was labeled as a “colossal failure” by authorities. Arredondo has been accused of failing to take command during the incident, leading to a delay in officers entering the classroom where the gunman was located. Despite their charges in connection with the massacre, both Gonzales and Arredondo have pleaded not guilty.
Family members of the victims shouted “Coward!” at Arredondo during the hearing, expressing their disappointment and calling for justice for their lost loved ones. Some family members wore reminders of their deceased children, like bracelets containing ashes and tattoos with names, further highlighting the emotional impact of the tragedy. The slow progress of the legal proceedings and the behavior of the district attorney also sparked frustration among the families, with one family member criticizing her as “lazy” and “unprofessional.”
While the shooter was eventually stopped by a Border Patrol tactical team, a recent report criticized the response of Border Patrol agents on the scene for failing to establish command and properly handle gunshot wound victims. The families continue to seek accountability and justice for the lives lost in one of the worst mass school shootings on record.
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