Texas Ranger Justin Duck Testifies in Uvalde Officer Adrian Gonzales Trial

Investigator's Role and Background

• 👨‍✈️ Justin Duck testified as a Texas Ranger stationed in Waco in 2022, with over 19 years of service in the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• 💡 His background includes roles as a highway patrol trooper, investigator in the criminal investigations division, and currently as a lieutenant in the office of inspector general.
• 🚨 He was activated as part of the crime scene investigation team following the Uvalde shooting on May 24, 2022.

Processing the F-150 Truck

• 🚗 On May 25, 2022, Duck was assigned to process a 2008 Ford F-150 found in a drainage ditch near Robb Elementary School.
• 🌧️ Overnight rain complicated the investigation, filling the ditch with water and covering potential evidence outside the vehicle.
• 🛢️ Despite the water, Duck and his team searched the truck and the surrounding area, recovering a duffel bag containing a rifle and six loaded magazines.

Recovery of Spent Casings

• 🔍 Two spent casings were recovered from inside the truck on May 25th, near the passenger doors.
• 💧 Ranger Cody Allen recovered a third spent casing from the water next to the truck by feel.
• 🌊 On May 27th, after the water receded, a fourth spent casing was found on the bank of the ditch.
• 🏷️ Evidence tags were attached to the recovered casings, and photographs were taken, including of the headstamp (LC223) for identification.

Testimony and Investigation Scope

• ⏱️ The processing of the truck and immediate area took approximately from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 25th.
• ❓ Duck confirmed that Ranger Shay was present at the scene the day before, but he was unaware of Shay's specific duties.
• 👥 Duck's role also included documenting bodies in classrooms and assisting in the evidence section.
• ❓ He clarified that while the driver of the truck was deceased, the investigation initially aimed to determine if he had any accomplices.
• 🔫 The recovered duffel bag contained six loaded magazines, each potentially holding up to 30 rounds, for a total of approximately 180 rounds.