Uvalde Officer Breaks Silence! What He Just Revealed Will Shock You!

**ABC News Exclusive: Former Uvalde Officer Speaks Out After Acquittal**

Uvalde Officer Breaks Silence! What He Just Reveal...

In his first interview since being acquitted on all counts Wednesday night, former Uvalde police officer Adrian Gonzales has broken his silence, defending his actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting and claiming he was unfairly targeted by prosecutors desperate for someone to blame.

The police response to the horrific massacre, which claimed the lives of 19 innocent children and two devoted teachers, has been under intense, almost unbearable, scrutiny since that awful day. The fact that nearly 400 law enforcement officers responded to the scene, yet a counterassault wasn't mounted for a staggering 77 minutes, continues to haunt the community and raise serious questions. Gonzales, charged with 29 counts of child endangerment, was one of only two officers to face criminal charges stemming from their actions (or inaction) that day.

After a grueling two-week trial, a jury, following seven hours of deliberation, delivered a verdict of acquittal on all counts. The news, unsurprisingly, was met with profound disappointment and renewed grief by some of the victims' families who had attended the trial, clinging to the hope of accountability.

"We had a little hope, but it wasn't enough," said Jacinto Cazares, his voice heavy with sorrow. His 9-year-old daughter, Jackie, was among those tragically killed. "Again, we are failed. I don't even know what to say." The raw emotion in Uvalde is still so palpable, even now. I can't imagine the weight these families carry.

Gonzales expressed his gratitude to the jury for their decision, but also acknowledged the immense pain and frustration felt by the families. "Whatever I say to them, I know it's not going to ease their pain, but... they're always in my prayers, you know, so they can start healing," he told ABC News.

In the exclusive interview, Gonzales recounted his actions on that devastating day, asserting that he did everything within his power to stop the violence. Arriving at the school on what should have been a joyous last day of classes, Gonzales said that while he didn't initially see the shooter, he was among the first officers to attempt entry into Robb Elementary. He stated unequivocally that he only retreated from the building upon receiving a direct order from his commanding officer.

"I did the best that I could with the information I was getting," he explained, adding, "I don't regret it, because I took an order from my chief at that time." He further elaborated on his connection to the school and its students: "Working with kids was a passion for me. When I got the opportunity to come back to the school as an officer, I took it and, unfortunately, it's not the same."

Gonzales maintains that all his actions that day were justified under the circumstances and that he was selectively targeted for prosecution. "When the videos started playing, I realized that they handpicked me," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "They had an excuse for everybody else. They did this, they did that, you know, but I had to do this, I had to do that."

His attorney, Nico LaHood, echoed this sentiment, arguing that prosecutors went after Gonzales because they perceived him as "an easy target." "He was the lowest man on the totem pole. He was the first on the scene," LaHood stated. "When you really look at the situation in the totality of the circumstances, you see that Adrian went to the danger initially, and then further went to the danger when he was one of the first five officers that went to that building." Another of Gonzales' attorneys, Jason Goss, went even further, contending that prosecutors did the victims of the shooting a disservice by charging Gonzales, diverting attention and resources from addressing the systemic failures that contributed to the delayed response.