ABC News June 28, 2024

Former Uvalde school police chief charged with 10 counts of 'abandoning and endangering' Robb Elementary survivors

WATCH: 2 people indicted in connection with Uvalde school shooting

Former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo has been indicted in connection with the investigation into the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, court records show.

Arredondo was charged with 10 counts of abandoning and endangering a child in connection with 10 of the Robb Elementary survivors, according to the indictment.

Arredondo was booked into the Uvalde County jail Thursday night and released from custody after posting bail, according to Sheriff Ruben Nolasco. Arredondo's last known attorney of record, George Hyde, had no comment when contacted by ABC News.

Uvalde County Sheriff's Department
The booking photo for former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo.

A second person has also been charged in connection with the shooting, court records show. Former Uvalde School District police officer Adrian Gonzales was indicted on 19 counts, one for each child who was killed in the shooting, for allegedly placing the children in "imminent danger" of death, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges that despite having time to respond to the shooting, Gonzales failed to act to impede the gunman and failed to follow active shooter training by not advancing toward the gunfire.

Sheriff Nolasco confirmed to ABC News Friday afternoon that Gonzales was in custody at the Uvalde County jail.

The charges were first reported by the San Antonio Express News.

Dario Lopez-Mills/AP, FILE
In this May 26, 2022, file photo, Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, third from left, stands during a news conference outside of the Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
MORE: Uvalde families reach settlement with city ahead of 2-year mark: Can 'begin rebuilding trust'

The indictment alleges that, after hearing shots fired, Arredondo failed to identify the shooting as an active shooter, failed to respond as trained, and instead, called SWAT, thereby delaying the response by law enforcement.

The indictment also alleges that he chose to negotiate with the gunman instead of engaging; failed to timely provide keys and breaching tools; failed to determine if the classroom door was locked; failed to follow the school district's active shooter policy; and failed to develop an immediate action plan.

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE
In this Sept. 6, 2022, file photo, a memorial is shown outside of Robb Elementary School for the 21 lives taken by a gunman in Uvalde, Texas.

Arredondo, in a recorded interview with investigators the day after the shooting, said he did not view himself as the "incident commander," contrary to the active shooter plan he devised. He was subsequently terminated for his actions during the shooting.

Nineteen students and two teachers were killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022.

Ana Rodriguez, the mother of 10-year-old victim Maite Rodriguez, told ABC News Thursday, "The fact that these two people are being held accountable doesn’t change anything for me, it doesn’t bring her back."

MORE: Uvalde parents outraged after independent report finds police officers didn't violate policy

Rodriguez said the indictments do not equate to "complete justice," saying, "Not everyone who … needs to be held accountable is going to be held accountable."

Javier Cazares, the father of 9-year-old victim Jackie Cazares, said of the charges, "It’s something."

"They are going to finally bring someone to justice," he said, adding, "We feel there should be more facing charges."

Eric Gay/AP, FILE
Felicia Martinez, left, and Evadulia Orta, right, both whose children were among 19 children killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary, embrace after speaking at a special city council meeting, March 7, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas.

The Justice Department released a scathing report earlier this year after it found "critical failures" before, during and after the shooting, and major departures from established active-shooter protocols. Law enforcement waited some 77 minutes before breaching a classroom and killing the gunman.

Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell began her criminal investigation into the law enforcement failures shortly after the shooting and convened a grand jury to review evidence against hundreds of officers in January.

Mitchell initially said in May 2023 that she had been "optimistic" that the investigation would be completed by the one-year mark, but added that it was "not surprising" that it was still ongoing "given the magnitude of this investigation."

Anne Marie Espinoza, director of communications and marketing for Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, released a statement Thursday, saying, "As we have done and continue to do, we extend our sincerest sympathies to all who lost loved ones."

"Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this challenging situation," Espinoza said.

ABC News' Ismael Estrada, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Josh Margolin, Emily Shapiro and Mireya Villarreal contributed to this report.