Former Uvalde school officer says he doesn't regret actions after not guilty verdict

A erstwhile Uvalde schoolhouse constabulary serviceman is speaking retired aft helium was acquitted connected each counts astir 4 years aft the shooting astatine Robb Elementary School that near 19 students and 2 teachers dead.

Adrian Gonzales, who was charged with 29 counts of kid abandonment oregon endangerment tied to the shooting, said successful his archetypal interrogation since the acquittal that helium has nary regrets astir the actions helium took connected May 24, 2022.

The assemblage deliberated for conscionable 7 hours earlier returning the verdict. Gonzales did not instrumentality the basal during the trial, portion his attorneys brought up 2 witnesses.

JURY REACHES VERDICT IN TRIAL OF EX-UVALDE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF FAILING TO CONFRONT GUNMAN

Former Uvalde schoolhouse territory constabulary serviceman Adrian Gonzales leaves the courtroom during a interruption astatine the Nueces County Courthouse successful Corpus Christi, Texas, connected Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP)

An probe recovered that it took 77 minutes from the clip authorities arrived astatine the country until the tactical squad breached a schoolroom and killed the shooter. Police faced disapproval implicit their effect successful the years since the shooting.

"You tin beryllium present and archer maine each you privation astir what I would person done, oregon what you would person done. Until you're successful that mix, you can't archer maine anything," Gonzales told ABC News.

Gonzales was the archetypal connected the country astatine Robb Elementary School erstwhile 18-year-old Salvador Ramos carried retired his deadly attack. The erstwhile schoolhouse constabulary serviceman told ABC News that helium did not spot Ramos and that helium retreated from wrong the schoolhouse gathering due to the fact that of an bid from his commanding officer.

"I did the champion that I could with the accusation I was getting," helium said, adding, "I don't regret it, due to the fact that I took an bid from my main astatine that time."

Attorney Nico LaHood makes opening arguments during a proceedings for erstwhile Uvalde schoolhouse territory constabulary serviceman Adrian Gonzales connected Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.  (Eric Gay/AP)

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While helium stands down the actions helium took during the shooting, Gonzales told ABC News that helium understands that the victims' families were frustrated with the verdict. He besides said that helium prays for the victims, their families and the community.

The 52-year-old erstwhile serviceman told ABC News that helium believes helium was selectively prosecuted, portion others who arrived astatine the country did not person their actions scrutinized.

"When the videos started playing, I realized that they handpicked me," helium told ABC News. "They had an excuse for everybody else. They did this, they did that, you know, but I had to bash this, I had to bash that."

Former Uvalde schoolhouse territory constabulary serviceman Adrian Gonzales, right, and his lawyer Nico LaHood, left, get successful the courtroom astatine the Nueces County Courthouse successful Corpus Christi, Texas, connected Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.  (Eric Gay/AP)

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After the verdict, Gonzales thanked God, his family, his ineligible squad and the jury.

"First things first, I privation to commencement by thanking God for this," Gonzales said. "My family, my wife, and these guys close here. He enactment them successful my path, you know? And I'm conscionable thankful for that. Thank you to the assemblage for considering each the grounds and making their verdict."

Former Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo was besides criminally charged successful narration to the 2022 shooting. He was charged with endangerment oregon abandonment of a kid and has pleaded not guilty. A day for Arredondo's proceedings has not yet been set.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.