Attorneys delivered their closing arguments in the civil trial of the parents of a Texas high school shooter, more than six years after the tragic incident that claimed the lives of eight students and two teachers at Santa Fe High School in May 2018.
The survivors and families of the victims filed a lawsuit against Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, alleging negligence in failing to address their son's deteriorating mental health and secure their firearms properly. The parents testified that they were unaware of any warning signs leading up to the shooting and had secured their guns.
A jury in Galveston, Texas, will now determine whether the parents are liable for negligence in connection with their son's actions. Notably, the parents have not faced criminal charges, as the criminal trial of their son, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, was postponed indefinitely due to his mental incompetence.
The trial featured emotional testimonies from victims, their families, and members of the Pagourtzis family. The case has drawn comparisons to the trial of the parents of another school shooter, Ethan Crumbley, who were convicted of manslaughter in a similar incident.
The plaintiffs' lawyer highlighted evidence suggesting that the shooter's parents were aware of his mental health struggles and failed to secure their firearms adequately. In contrast, the defense attorney emphasized the shooter's mental illness and sought to shift blame onto him.
The trial also addressed the issue of gun access, with claims that the shooter had taken firearms from his parents' cabinet months before the shooting. The defense argued against the shooter's claims of insanity, citing his documented writings expressing violent intentions.
Survivors of the shooting shared their harrowing experiences, with one victim still carrying projectiles in his body and another tragically losing her life. The trial also scrutinized the actions of a gun retailer and the school for potential lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Ultimately, the trial serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of school shootings and the complex legal questions surrounding parental responsibility and gun safety.
