Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo arrested 2 years after Robb Elementary School shooting
UVALDE — Pete Arredondo, the previous police chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Unbiased College District, was arrested Thursday, greater than two years after the 2022 Robb Elementary College capturing.
Arredondo was booked into the Uvalde County Jail on 10 counts of kid endangerment, Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco advised CBS Information in a textual content message. He was launched from custody after posting ten $10,000 bonds, one for every of the counts, authorities stated.
The San Antonio Specific-Information reported {that a} grand jury indicted Arredondo and a second officer who responded to the Uvalde capturing.
“[It’s] very emotional,” stated Jesse Rizo, the uncle of Jackie Cazares, one of many victims. “I knew the day was going to return. I wasn’t certain how lengthy it will take.”
In a press release to CBS Information Thursday night, the college district stated it “solely simply realized in regards to the grand jury choice relating to two indictments being issued,” and had “no info separate from what’s being reported by the media.”
“As we’ve got accomplished and proceed to do, we lengthen our sincerest sympathies to all who misplaced family members,” Uvalde CISD stated. “Our hearts exit to everybody affected by this difficult scenario.”
The alleged indictments reported by the Specific-Information come over two years after a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary. Regulation enforcement officers killed the gunman in a classroom after waiting more than an hour to confront him, which was closely criticized within the wake of the capturing. Arredondo was fired in 2022, three months to the day of the capturing.
Rizo known as Arredondo’s arrest a step in the best course, hopeful extra indictments will observe.
“It is apparent what he did was incorrect. It is apparent that he may’ve saved a number of lives, however sitting there and in search of keys on a keychain for a very long time. It is simply unacceptable,” stated Rizo. “I am stunned that a number of different officers weren’t charged. I am disillusioned in that however I’m joyful to see that there’s lastly judgment coming.”
The Justice Department released a hard-hitting report in January on the response by legislation enforcement to the mass capturing, pointing to a collection of “cascading failures” by the police chief and others.
In Could, members of the family of Uvalde school shooting victims reached a $2 million settlement with Uvalde. The town of Uvalde can pay a complete of $2 million to the households of the kids killed within the capturing and two kids who survived, in response to a press release from the households’ attorneys.
