A jury has found former Uvalde school police officer Adrian Gonzales not guilty on all 29 counts of child endangerment related to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, ending a high-profile trial that scrutinized law enforcement’s response during the tragedy.

Gonzales, one of the first officers to respond to the mass shooting in May 2022 that claimed 19 students and two teachers, faced allegations that he failed to act quickly enough to stop the gunman. Prosecutors argued that Gonzales’ decisions endangered students and failed to follow training protocols. Each of the 29 counts carried a maximum penalty of two years, and a conviction could have resulted in decades in prison.

The defense contended that Gonzales acted appropriately given the information he had at the time, evacuating children and coordinating with other officers while gathering critical intelligence about the shooter’s location. Lawyers emphasized that he was unfairly singled out for systemic failures and that multiple officers were present but did not intervene earlier.

After more than seven hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict. Gonzales bowed his head as the verdict was read, later hugging his attorneys and thanking God and his family. “Picking up the pieces and moving forward,” he told reporters outside the courthouse. His lawyers expressed hope that the verdict clears his name, noting that he acted in the line of duty under extreme circumstances.

Families of victims, however, voiced frustration. Jackie Cazares’ parents said the verdict represented another painful moment in the aftermath of the shooting, questioning what it might signal for law enforcement responses to future mass attacks. Others expressed concern about accountability and the precedent set for officers facing criminal charges for decisions made in active-shooter situations.

This case marks only the second time in U.S. history that law enforcement officers have faced criminal prosecution for their response to a mass shooting. In 2023, former Broward County deputy Scot Peterson was acquitted on similar charges for his role in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Meanwhile, former Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who was on-site commanding the response, remains charged with endangerment or abandonment of a child, though his case has been delayed by ongoing federal litigation.