Former Uvalde school police chief, Pete Arredondo, was arrested on Thursday, more than two years after the tragic 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Arredondo faced 10 counts of child endangerment and was released on a $10,000 bond after being booked into Uvalde County Jail. The arrest came following a grand jury indictment, which also included another officer involved in the response to the Uvalde shooting.
The community, still reeling from the devastating loss of 19 students and two teachers, expressed mixed emotions upon hearing about Arredondo’s arrest. Jesse Rizo, the uncle of one of the victims, highlighted the importance of accountability in the aftermath of such a horrific event. The district, having just learned of the indictments, extended sympathies to all affected by the tragedy and emphasized the ongoing support for the families who lost loved ones.
The Justice Department’s report in January shed light on the failures in law enforcement’s response to the school shooting, pointing to critical errors made by the police chief and others. The subsequent $2 million settlement reached with the families of the victims underscored the gravity of the situation and sought to provide some semblance of justice to those who suffered immeasurable loss in the wake of the Robb Elementary School massacre.