Arnulfo Reyes testified on Monday within the trial of former Uvalde faculty police officer Adrian Gonzales that the shooter purposely splashed blood on his face.
“He tried to taunt me,” Reyes, a former fourth-grade trainer at Robb Elementary and the only survivor from room 111, mentioned. “He got some of my blood and splashed it on my face.”
Reyes gave his testimony because the Gonzales trial entered its second week. Gonzales, who has pleaded not responsible to 29 counts of kid endangerment, was one of many first law enforcement officials on scene the day of the 2022 mass taking pictures at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 youngsters and two lecturers.
Nearly 400 law enforcement officials have been on scene that day, and it took 77 minutes for them to confront and kill the shooter. The prosecution is arguing that Gonzales did not observe his energetic shooter coaching, whereas his protection mentioned Gonzales did one of the best he may with what he knew.
Reyes defined to the courtroom that May 24, 2022, began like some other regular day. The college students had a year-end awards ceremony within the morning, and afterward, they watched a film of their classroom. That’s when Reyes heard loud noises, which he thought have been books being dropped.
As the noises bought nearer, Reyes appeared over at room 112, which adjoined his classroom, and noticed sheetrock falling. One of his college students requested what was occurring, however he didn’t know.
Reyes informed his college students to cover below the desk.
The shooter walked into the classroom, shot Reyes within the arm after which attacked the youngsters. After killing them, the shooter turned again to Reyes, who was mendacity on the bottom together with his eyes closed and pretending to be lifeless.
The shooter took a few of Reyes’ personal blood and splashed it within the trainer’s face. Then, the shooter shot Reyes within the again. Reyes continued to play lifeless for greater than an hour till police confronted the shooter.
The prosecution additionally requested Reyes to determine each scholar in rooms 111 and 112 and state whether or not they survived or not. All 11 college students in room 111 died. Eight college students, together with two lecturers, in room 112 died.
Reyes later underwent not less than 10 surgical procedures for his accidents. In 2024, he mentioned he nonetheless had pains in his arm and again.
During cross-examination, Nico Lahood, Gonzales’ protection legal professional, questioned Reyes on why his classroom door wasn’t locked. Reyes mentioned he didn’t know his classroom door wasn’t locked.
Before Reyes’ testimony, surveillance video from inside Robb Elementary was performed for the courtroom, however the choose ordered that it not be proven to the general public. However, the audio could possibly be heard, which included rounds and rounds and rounds of gunfire, and the 911 name from Amy Marin-Franco, the afterschool program coordinator, who was falsely accused of leaving an exterior door to the varsity open.
Additional testimony on Monday included Terry Snyder, a Texas Ranger, who mentioned police have been educated to search out the goal in the event that they don’t see the goal. Scott Swick, one other Texas Ranger, echoed Snyder’s testimony, saying police have been educated to go towards the menace. Swick added that he “would like to think” he would have gone towards the shooter if he have been on scene that day.