A civil trial in Galveston, Texas is set to begin against the parents of a former high school student accused of negligence in securing the weapons he allegedly used in a 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School. The lawsuit, filed by family members of seven of those killed and four of the injured, seeks to hold the student, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, and his parents, Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, financially liable for the tragedy. Pagourtzis, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, has been declared incompetent to stand trial and remains in a mental health facility.
The lawsuit alleges that Pagourtzis’ parents failed to take action despite signs of emotional distress and violent fantasies exhibited by their son. It also accuses them of not securing the handgun and shotgun kept in their home, which Pagourtzis allegedly used in the shooting. The families are seeking at least $1 million in damages in this trial, which is expected to last up to three weeks. Pagourtzis’ attorney has denied the allegations, claiming his client was not in control of his actions due to mental impairment or illness.
The start of the civil trial has been welcomed by family members of the victims, who have expressed frustration over the delay in Pagourtzis’ criminal trial. The criminal trial has been on hold for years, preventing the families from obtaining closure on the tragic events that occurred at Santa Fe High School in 2018. Lucky Gunner, an online retailer accused of illegally selling ammunition to Pagourtzis, was also a defendant in the lawsuit, but the families settled their case against the retailer in 2023.
Similar lawsuits have been filed following other mass shootings, such as the case in Nashville, Tennessee, where the mother of one of the victims was awarded over $200 million in a lawsuit against the shooter and his father. The father had reportedly given back a rifle to his son despite knowing about his mental health issues. These lawsuits highlight the legal consequences that can arise when individuals fail to take necessary precautions to prevent tragedies involving firearms.
Overall, the civil trial in Galveston, Texas represents an attempt to hold individuals accountable for their actions or inactions in preventing a tragic school shooting. The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching implications for similar cases in the future, as families seek justice and closure for the loss of their loved ones.
