A former school police officer went on trial Monday in Texas on criminal charges that he failed to protect children during the 2022 Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers.

Adrian Gonzales faces charges of abandoning or endangering a child and criminal negligent homicide in connection with the botched law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School. Jury selection began Monday in Corpus Christi, where the case was moved due to pretrial publicity.

Gonzales is the first officer criminally charged in the May 24, 2022, shooting. He was among the first responders who arrived at the school but waited more than an hour before confronting the gunman, according to state investigation records.

The trial raises questions about police accountability that have echoed in Politics & Government discussions nationwide, including in South Carolina where lawmakers have debated qualified immunity protections for law enforcement.

“This case will test whether officers can be held criminally liable for their tactical decisions during active shooter situations,” said a spokesperson for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.

Prosecutors argue Gonzales had a duty to act immediately to stop the threat. The indictment alleges he “did not confront the attacker” and instead remained in a hallway for 77 minutes while children were trapped with the shooter.

Defense attorneys are expected to argue that Gonzales followed commands from senior officers and that the chaotic scene made reasonable response difficult. They have not commented publicly on the case.

The Uvalde shooting investigation revealed multiple failures in law enforcement response. A Justice Department review found officers from multiple agencies showed “cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy and training.”

Video evidence shows officers equipped with rifles and ballistic shields waited in school hallways while the gunman remained in adjoining classrooms with victims. The shooter was eventually killed by Border Patrol agents who entered the classroom.

The case comes as South Carolina grapples with its own questions about police accountability and training standards. Charleston County has implemented new active shooter protocols for schools following reviews of national incidents like Uvalde.

“Every jurisdiction needs to examine their response procedures after Uvalde,” said Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano in a previous interview about school safety measures.

If convicted, Gonzales faces up to two years in prison on each charge. The abandoning a child charge is a state jail felony, while criminal negligent homicide is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas law.

The trial is expected to last several weeks. Prosecutors plan to present timeline evidence showing when officers arrived and their positions throughout the incident. Body camera footage and radio communications will likely be key evidence.

Several other Uvalde officers remain under investigation by state and federal authorities, though no additional criminal charges have been filed. The school district’s police chief, Pete Arredondo, was fired and indicted on similar charges alongside Gonzales.

Families of victims have filed multiple civil lawsuits against law enforcement agencies, school officials and the gun manufacturer. Those cases remain pending in federal and state courts.

The shooting prompted Texas lawmakers to raise the minimum age for purchasing certain firearms and increase school safety funding. However, families of victims have called for broader changes to gun laws and police training requirements.

Nationwide, the Uvalde response has led to reviews of active shooter protocols in schools and law enforcement agencies. The incident highlighted gaps between written policies and actual response during high-stress situations.

South Carolina schools have conducted additional active shooter drills and updated emergency communication systems since Uvalde. The state allocated $10 million in the current budget for school safety improvements.

The Gonzales trial will be closely watched by law enforcement agencies, legal experts and victims’ families seeking accountability for the failed response. The outcome could influence how similar cases are prosecuted and whether officers face criminal liability for tactical decisions during emergencies.

Testimony is expected to begin Tuesday after jury selection concludes.