The parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a former student accused of killing 10 people in a school shooting in 2018 in Santa Fe High School near Houston, were found not responsible for the incident by a jury. The lawsuit against them sought to hold them financially liable for the shooting, claiming they failed to provide necessary mental health support for their son and did not do enough to prevent him from accessing their guns. However, the jury held Dimitrios Pagourtzis responsible and awarded families more than $300 million in damages, including for pain and mental anguish. Pagourtzis, who is now 23, has been charged with capital murder but has been declared incompetent to stand trial and is being held at a state mental health facility.
The victims’ lawsuit was filed by relatives of seven of the people killed and four of the 13 who were wounded in the Santa Fe attack. The attorney representing Pagourtzis argued that his client had severe mental illness and was never in control of his actions, despite planning the shooting. On the other hand, the victims’ attorney claimed that the parents knew their son was depressed, isolated himself, and had displayed troubling behavior online, including ordering weapons and ammunition. The parents testified during the trial, with Kosmetatos stating that her son had become more introverted as he grew older, but she had hoped his behavior would improve. Antonios Pagourtzis testified that he was not aware of his son feeling rejected or depressed.
The family stored firearms in a gun safe in the garage and a display cabinet in the living room, from which Dimitrios Pagourtzis obtained the weapons he used in the shooting. The parents claimed they were not aware of any red flags regarding their son’s behavior and did not know any weapons were missing. However, the issue of how Pagourtzis gained access to the guns was debated during the trial. Lucky Gunner, an online retailer that sold Pagourtzis ammunition without verifying his age, was also a defendant in the lawsuit but reached a settlement with the families last year.
The judge emphasized the need to protect children and ensure their safety at schools and at home following the verdict. He urged legislators to take action to prevent similar tragedies in the future. While Pagourtzis’ parents were not accused of any crimes in connection to the shooting, they were facing financial responsibility for damages. The case is seen as a landmark decision in holding individuals accountable for mass shootings, particularly when it comes to gun access and mental health issues. Similar lawsuits have been filed following other mass shootings in an effort to seek justice for the victims and hold responsible parties accountable.
Overall, the verdict in the lawsuit against the parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis highlights the complexities of assigning responsibility in cases of mass shootings and the role of mental health support in preventing such tragedies. The case brings attention to the need for better mental health care, gun safety measures, and support for troubled individuals to prevent future incidents. While the parents were not found directly responsible for the shooting, the outcome of the trial raises important questions about parental oversight, access to firearms, and the impact of mental illness on violent behavior. The families of the victims will receive compensation for their losses, but the emotional scars of the tragedy will likely endure for years to come.
