Uvalde gunman fired 117 shots in 2 minutes before officer Gonzales entered the school, official says
The Uvalde, Texas, gunman fired 117 rounds in two Robb Elementary School classrooms during a two-minute period before school police officer Adrian Gonzales entered the building, a Texas Ranger told jurors on Friday.
While prosecutors allege Gonzales did not follow his training, the defense contends that other officers arrived on scene at nearly the same time and had the opportunity to kill the gunman.
Ranger Nick Hill testified that Gonzales had a window of one minute and four seconds after he parked his car before gunman Salvador Ramos entered the school. Gonzales took three minutes and 53 seconds to enter Robb Elementary after parking his car, Hill said.
Hill said Gonzales parked at 11:31:55 a.m. and radioed in the active shooter report at 11:32:09 a.m.
Ramos entered the west side of Robb Elementary at 11:32:59 a.m., and, after firing 21 shots in a hallway, he entered the first of two classrooms at 11:33:45 a.m. Gonzales entered the south door of Robb Elementary at 11:35:48 a.m., Hill said.
In total, Ramos fired 173 shots during the massacre, while law enforcement discharged 25 rounds, Hill said. Ramos killed 19 students and two teachers.
After Hill said Gonzales had more than a minute to stop the gunman outside the school, defense lawyers pushed back, highlighting that other officers had similar -- if not better -- opportunities to stop the gunman.
Hill acknowledged during cross examination that three other officers arrived approximately 30 seconds after Gonzales and could more easily spot the gunman.
Defense attorney Nico LaHood also argued that Gonzales did not know that the shooter had entered the building, never had him in his line of sight, and had to deal with a “frantic” eyewitness.
Prosecutors allege Gonzales, who is charged with child endangerment, endangered the 19 students who died and an additional 10 surviving students. Prosecutors allege Gonzales not only failed when he arrived at the scene, but also when he got into the school because he retreated after two other officers were hit by gunfire.
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers argue he is being unfairly blamed for a broader law-enforcement failure that day. The defense argued Gonzales did everything he could, including calling in the shooting and attempting to enter the school.
