The trial of a former school police officer from Uvalde, Texas, faced a critical moment this week as the defense sought a mistrial, accusing prosecutors of withholding key evidence. The judge denied the motion, allowing the high-stakes case to proceed.
Judge Rejects Mistrial Motion
On Wednesday, Judge Sid Harle rejected a defense motion for a mistrial in the case against Adrian Gonzales. Gonzales, a former Uvalde school police officer, is charged with child endangerment for his actions during the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two teachers.
The defense argued that the prosecution failed to disclose crucial information from a witness. Judge Harle ruled the prosecution had been "negligent" but did not act in bad faith, allowing the trial to continue.
Teacher's Emotional Testimony Alters Defense Strategy
The controversy stems from testimony by Stephanie Hale, a former third-grade teacher at Robb Elementary. On Tuesday, Hale described ushering her students inside during recess when she saw the gunman walking toward a school door. She ran inside with her class, hid in a classroom, and was handed a pair of scissors for potential self-defense.
During cross-examination, the defense revealed Hale had not mentioned seeing the shooter on the school's south side in her initial police interview or grand jury testimony four days after the tragedy. This was pivotal because the defense's opening argument stated Gonzales was on the south side and never saw the attacker.
Defense lawyer Jason Goss argued this new testimony had a "significant effect" on their strategy. Hale became emotional on the stand, crying as she recalled calming her students with breathing exercises while they hid. Goss expressed concern the jury would struggle to disregard her powerful account.
Broader Context of the 77-Minute Response
The jury also heard from Pastor Gilbert Limones, who was at a funeral home across the street when the shooter crashed a truck. Limones called 911 after seeing the driver start shooting, warning that the gunman was headed toward the school.
Prosecutors allege Gonzales failed to follow his active-shooter training. Gonzales was among the first officers on scene, but police took 77 minutes to confront and kill the shooter. Nearly 400 law enforcement personnel eventually responded.
Brett Cross, father of 10-year-old victim Uziyah, spoke out on TikTok, calling the trial "fucking hard" but necessary. "We have to hold these people accountable. We have to hold Adrian accountable," he said.
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty. The defense will continue cross-examining Hale on Thursday, after which Judge Harle will decide if her testimony should be excluded.
