Ranger Details Accused Uvalde Cop's 'Opportunity' To Stop School Shooting

Part of former school police officer Adrian Gonzales' defense in his child endangerment trial voter the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting is that he didn't know as much about the gunman's location as prosecutors allege.

His lawyers also are trying to draw the jurors' attention to the actions of other officers, which Nico LaHood focused on during his cross-examination today (Friday, January 16, day 8 ) of Nick Hill, a ranger lieutenant with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

In this 20-minute segment from the 2 1/2 exam, LaHood questions Hill about the actions of Sgt. Daniel Coronado and Officers Mendoza and Saucedo, whom LaHood argues had better line of sight and equipment to engage the shooter compared to Gonzales. 

LaHood also questioned Hill's ability to locate gunfire based on sound and echoes.

04:29 "the gunshots and fires from this general location..."

07:47 "So Adrian over here, behind the building, parked over there, would see this puff of smoke, maybe, and could say that that's someone shooting..."

09:56 "Can I explain myself? ... . So when these shots were fired right here, Mr. Gonzales had not arrived. The three officers at the intersection had not arrived. Mr. Gonzales had driven past and had parked up here the 14 seconds that passed. He gets out when he gets on the radio and says, shots fired. He has now clarified he heard something. He understands that shots are being fired because he put it out over the radio."

11:15 "a possible opportunity is because you have cover on this building in this area right here, even with a handgun, an officer can come down here to gather additional information. And this is the opportunity that
was available to the first officer, Mr. Gonzales."

14:01 "So you heard a shot and you knew where it was coming from? ... You've done that before?"
"I have, yes."

"I sustain myself, judge. You're right."

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