Adrian Gonzales’ attorney said it would be “impossible” for a jury in Uvalde County to remain impartial.
UVALDE, Texas — The attorney representing Adrian Gonzales, the former Uvalde CISD police officer and one of two people charged with child endangerment after the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, is seeking to move his upcoming trial elsewhere.
Nico LaHood filed a motion Monday requesting a change of venue for what will likely be a highly visible trial. LaHood is asking a judge to move the trial out of Uvalde County because he doesn’t believe his client can receive a fair trial there.
In a statement, LaHood said a change of venue was necessary because “it would be impossible to gather a jury that would not view the evidence through their own pain and grief.”
“The evil person responsible for stealing those precious lives is beyond the justice of man but has been judged,” said LaHood. “Adrian Gonzales is innocent of these allegations and a change of venue is necessary for justice to prevail.”
Gonzales pleaded not guilty to 29 felony counts of abandoning and endangering a child in July 2024, more than two years after the botched law enforcement response at Robb Elementary, where 19 students and two teachers were killed by a gunman.
An indictment accused Gonzales of failing to engage the assailant after hearing gunshots and being informed of the shooter’s general location. He’s also accused of failing to follow active shooter training.
“We have not seen any evidence that would lead us to believe that Mr. Gonzales is guilty of these charges,” LaHood said at the time. “All he did was show up and try to help those children.”
Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde CISD police chief at the time of the shooting, was indicted on 10 counts of child endangerment and also pleaded not guilty. LaHood isn’t representing Arredondo.
Trial dates have not yet been set for either Gonzales or Arredondo.