As an attacker gunned down elementary school students in a Texas classroom, police officers waited more than an hour before intervening, killing 19 children and two teachers. Now, the officers’ inaction has had legal consequences: then-police chief Pete Arredeondo has been arrested and another former police officer, Adrian Gonzales, has been charged.
Pete Arredeondo, 52, is accused of endangering a child in the May 2022 crime, NBC News cited prison officials as saying.
The police did nothing for over an hour
In May 2022, a teenager shot 19 elementary school students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in the worst gun attack on a U.S. school in a decade. Uvalde police have been under fire since it was reported that more than a dozen officers waited for more than an hour outside the classrooms where the shots were fired. Officials did nothing while children died in the rooms. Ultimately, police shot the shooter.
A damning report from the US Department of Justice in January called it a ‘serious failure’ in this context. The operation involved 376 security forces.
One in three adults in the United States owns a firearm
The United States has been repeatedly rocked by gun attacks in schools. About a third of adults in the country own a gun, and regulations are lax, even for high-powered assault rifles. Polls show that a majority of American voters favor stricter controls on the use and sale of firearms. However, the powerful gun lobby opposes additional restrictions.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
