A jury in Galveston, Texas determined that the parents of a former student accused of a school shooting cannot be held responsible for the tragedy. The lawsuit sought to hold Dimitrios Pagourtzis and his parents financially liable for the shooting at Santa Fe High School in 2018, where he killed 10 people. While the parents were not found responsible, Pagourtzis was held accountable and families were awarded over $300 million in damages for pain and mental anguish.
Pagourtzis, who has been charged with capital murder, was declared incompetent to stand trial in 2019 and is currently held in a state mental health facility. The parents were not accused of any crime in connection with the shooting.
The lawsuit was filed by relatives of the victims and wounded individuals from the Santa Fe attack, claiming the parents failed to provide necessary support for their son’s mental health and did not prevent him from accessing their guns. Defense argued that the parents were not aware of their son’s issues as he planned the shooting, and had no knowledge of his online purchases or missing weapons.
The verdict highlights the importance of protecting children at school and at home, stressing the need for legislators to address safety concerns. Similar lawsuits have been filed following other mass shootings, with some resulting in substantial awards to victims’ families. The case sheds light on the complexities of holding individuals accountable for tragic events and the challenges of addressing mental health issues and gun safety.
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