An attorney for the parents of a Texas student accused of a 2018 school shooting near Houston told trial jurors that they were unaware of their son's impending psychotic breakdown. The victims' lawsuit seeks financial accountability from Dimitrios Pagourtzis and his parents for the tragic events at Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018, with damages totaling at least $1 million.
The jury began deliberations on Friday and is set to resume on Monday morning. The lawsuit alleges that Pagourtzis' parents failed to provide adequate mental health support and did not sufficiently prevent him from accessing their firearms, which were used in the shooting that claimed the lives of eight students and two teachers.
Pagourtzis, now 23, has been charged with capital murder but was deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2019. His parents' attorney argued that the mental breakdown was unforeseeable, emphasizing that the parents kept their firearms securely locked.
The lawsuit, filed by relatives of victims and survivors of the attack, highlights the ongoing trauma experienced by those affected. While Pagourtzis' attorney acknowledged his client's role in the shooting, he attributed it to severe mental illness rather than malicious intent.
The trial also raised questions about the parents' awareness of their son's mental state and the security of their firearms. The case underscores the complexities of holding individuals accountable in cases of mass violence and the challenges of identifying warning signs of mental distress.
Similar lawsuits following mass shootings have resulted in significant legal outcomes, reflecting the broader societal impact of such tragedies and the need for accountability and prevention measures.
