Uvalde case update: ex-school police chief Pete Arredondo seeks a venue change as judge sets Feb. 22 trial. Location still unclear; families frustrated by delays and witness disputes.
More than four years after 19 children and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a judge on Thursday set a trial date for former Uvalde school police Chief Pete Arredondo, who is accused of endangering students during the May 2022 mass shooting.
SAN ANTONIO - More than four years after 19 children and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a judge on Thursday set a trial date for former Uvalde school police Chief Pete Arredondo, who is accused of endangering students during the May 2022 mass shooting. Arredondo was in court in Uvalde seeking a change of venue for his upcoming trial.
Judge Sid Harle set the trial for Feb. 22, but it remained unclear where the case would be tried. The judge and victims’ families expressed frustration about how long it has taken for the case to reach trial and about the possibility of having to travel for proceedings.
“The judge and victims' families expressed frustration that it's taking so long for this case to get to trial. They're also not happy about the prospect of having to travel to Midland or Corpus Christi, because Bexar County told the judge they don't have the space to conduct the trial there,” Jaie Avila said. One reason for the delay is that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has refused to allow three Border Patrol agents to testify.
Both Arredondo’s attorney and the Uvalde district attorney have filed lawsuits seeking to force the agents to appear. The three agents breached the classroom and killed the shooter, and they could provide information about whether Arredondo was in charge at the scene. Authorities have said Arredondo failed to take action for 77 minutes while children inside the school were still being shot. Javier Cazares, who lost his daughter Jackie, said he wants the case handled carefully.
“I mean we've been waiting so long, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I just want them to take their time and do it right,” Cazares said. Earlier this year, Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales was acquitted by a jury in Corpus Christi. Arredondo, Gonzales’ former boss, could also be tried in Corpus Christi or in Midland, which also has a suitable courtroom.
Both sides wanted the trial in Bexar County, but Harle said he spoke with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and was told the county does not have an available courtroom. Manual Rizo, an uncle of a victim, questioned why the case has not been taken up in a larger venue.
“This should be the most important case, whether you're in Uvalde County, Nueces County, Bexar County, Midland County, why won't they take this case? 19 children, 2 teachers died the community suffered,” Rizo said. Sakai said his concern is whether a fair and impartial jury could be found in Bexar County because of extensive media coverage and its proximity to Uvalde.
Avila said Harle set the Feb. 22 trial date in part because having a firm date could help persuade the Department of Justice to allow the Border Patrol agents to testify. Avila said Harle told the court, “This case is getting old and the community deserves a resolution. ”San Antonio police are probing a 1 a.m. fatal shooting at a family-owned business on Medical Drive. The victim was working when shot; relatives watched via live surveillance.
Suspect fled as motives remain unclear. From the city of Midland social media:We are aware of the ongoing incident near Industrial Avenue and Wall Street.
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