Uvalde Schools Chief Seeks Border Patrol Testimony for Trial

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The former police chief of the Uvalde, Texas school district is asking a judge to compel 19 US Customs and Border Protection employees to testify at his upcoming criminal trial. Pete Arredondo faces 10 counts of endangering a child in connection with the law enforcement response to the 2022 deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School. Arredondo's lawyers say the federal agents' testimony is necessary to show they knew there were still children alive in the classrooms when they entered one of them.

Why it matters

The Uvalde school shooting was one of the deadliest in US history, and the law enforcement response has been heavily criticized. Arredondo, who was the on-scene commander, has faced intense scrutiny for the delayed and ineffective police actions during the attack. This trial could shed more light on the decisions and actions of all law enforcement agencies involved.

The details

Arredondo is facing 10 counts of endangering a child, which stem from allegations that he failed to prioritize the safety of students during the shooting. His lawyers argue the testimony of 19 Border Patrol agents is crucial to his defense, as they claim the federal agents knew there were still children alive in the classrooms when they entered one of them.

• The Uvalde school shooting occurred on May 24, 2022.
• Arredondo is set to go on trial in the coming months.

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to compel the Border Patrol agents to testify at Arredondo's trial.