DALLAS – The fallout continues after Former Unelected CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo spoke out for the first time.

His attorney took questions from reporters in Houston on Friday and said his client may have made bad decisions but should not be held criminally responsible.

A day after CNN aired its interview with the former school police chief after murder of 19 children and two teachers in UvaldeAttorney Paul Looney took questions from the media.

“It’s tragic to try to clean up the situation on the back of someone who did his best at a dead level like Pete Arredondo did,” he said.

That statement alone gives you an idea of ​​how Arredondo’s attorney plans to defend his client in court.

In Thursday’s interview, Arredondo said he shouldn’t be the fall guy for the massive failure of law enforcement, and his attorney reiterated that position.

“I’m not defending every decision he made. He’s not defending every decision he made,” Looney said. “But I’m saying there’s no theory as a matter of law where this man had criminal liability. Civil? Maybe, maybe not. But criminal? No chance.”

Arredondo was in the first group of officers on the scene. Taking fire from the gunman, they retreated.

It wasn’t until almost an hour later that the police moved in and killed the shooter.

The Justice Department criticized the response, noting that the top priority is always to stop the active shooter first, even if it puts officers at risk.

Arredondo and Adrian Gonzales were both charged in July with multiple counts of child endangerment. They are the only two police officers charged so far.

Brett Cross lost his son Uziyah Garcia in the shooting. He took to social media to respond to Arredondo’s statement that he avoids watching police video from inside the school.

“I’ve looked at every single picture I can because it’s my son’s last moment,” Cross said. “So hard for you? You’re not the one who wakes up every morning and wishes they didn’t wake up because the pain is so damn bad!”

Looney said Arredondo thought that since he was one of the first responders to the shooting, someone else would set up a command station. That was not the case.

“No, he didn’t. Is it a failure? Maybe it is,” Looney said. “He’s not there as a manager, he’s there as a first responder.

What happens next…

“We have to make several decisions,” Looney said. “One is if I have to apply for a change of venue in this case.”

Looney also said Uvalde is Arredondo’s hometown. He wants to regain their trust and has been selling BBQ to make ends meet since losing his job.