Ex-Police Chief Faces Criminal Charges After Failing to Act During Tragic School Shooting
Several weeks before the horrifying attack at a Texas elementary school that resulted in the death of 19 students and two adults, the school district's former police chief was mandated to participate in a training program on handling active shooter situations. The training emphasized the importance of immediate intervention by law enforcement officers to neutralize the attacker.
However, during the actual event, the ex-police chief, Pete Arredondo, seemed to do the opposite. Instead of confronting the shooter immediately, he waited for over an hour, contrary to his training, according to documents recently released by the school district.
"In active shooter scenarios, the greatest threat is time," read the training guideline. "The only chance of survival that innocent victims have depends on the quick action of officers to distract, corner, or eliminate the threat, even if it involves a solo officer."
Years After The Incident, Legal Battle Continues
Over three years since the shooting, Arredondo is still dealing with a criminal case accusing him of endangering students by delaying his response to the shooter. He faces 10 counts of child endangerment and abandonment for the injured and surviving children. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his trial scheduled for October 2025.
The Texas Department of Public Safety's former director, Steven McCraw, conceded that the decision to delay intervention was wrong. "Looking back, it's clear that the decision was incorrect," he admitted to reporters after the shooting.
Following a prolonged attempt to keep the documents about the school district's response, security measures, and police training under wraps, they were finally released ahead of the new school year. The release comes as prosecutors gear up for the trial of two former school district police leaders, including Arredondo.
Struggle For Transparency
The mother of one of the victims, Gloria Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie was tragically lost in the shooting, insisted that her fight for transparency is far from over. "I deserve to know everything that led to my daughter's death and what transpired afterward. Every detail is important. If justice is out of reach, then we deserve at least every piece of evidence, every record, every truth that has been concealed from us," she said.
The Flawed Response Despite Training
The documents suggest that the mishandling of the situation was not due to a lack of training but rather in spite of it. In 2019, a law was passed by the Texas state legislature mandating school resource officers and police to undergo approved active shooting training within 180 days of their employment. The training took place in Uvalde two months before the fatal shooting.
"First responders to an active shooter scene are expected to risk their lives and demonstrate exceptional bravery to protect the innocent," the training stated. "Anyone not prepared to prioritize the lives of the innocent over their own safety should consider a different line of work."
The training also discussed the criticisms faced by officers during the February 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, for their delayed response. The training in Texas was intended to prevent a similar scenario where a late law enforcement response could potentially lead to more casualties.
Details About the Gunman
The released documents also shed light on the school history of the deceased gunman, Salvador Ramos. The 18-year-old student had a history of misconduct, including bullying classmates, using inappropriate and sexual language, and engaging in fights. His behavior issues were escalating and repetitive, but there was no clear follow-up to address his needs and assist him. His parents were often not involved in the process.
Ramos' mother, Adriana Reyes, had previously expressed to law enforcement that she was "afraid" of her son. After the shooting, she described her son as "aggressive" but not a "monster."
"We all have a rage, some more than others," Reyes said.
The documents also revealed several disciplinary actions against Ramos, including truancy, insubordination, and inappropriate behavior. Despite these actions, there appeared to be no substantial intervention to address Ramos' problematic behavior.