A jury has ruled that the parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the former student responsible for the 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School near Houston, are not financially responsible for the tragic incident. The lawsuit, brought by victims and their families, aimed to hold the parents, Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, accountable for the shooting that claimed the lives of 10 individuals.
During the three-week trial, it was argued that the parents failed to provide adequate support for their son's mental health and did not take sufficient measures to prevent him from accessing their firearms. However, the jury placed the responsibility on Dimitrios Pagourtzis and a firearms ammunition retailer, awarding the families over $300 million in damages for pain and mental anguish.
While the families' attorneys expressed disappointment with the verdict, they acknowledged that the parents were not found criminally liable. Pagourtzis, who is now 23 years old, has been charged with capital murder but was deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2019 and is currently held at a state mental health facility.
The jury also assigned some responsibility to an online retailer that sold ammunition to Pagourtzis without verifying his age, resulting in a settlement with the families. The retailer, Lucky Gunner, stated that it was not a party to the trial and therefore not accountable for the damages awarded.
Throughout the trial, conflicting testimonies emerged regarding the parents' awareness of their son's mental state and actions leading up to the shooting. While the families argued that red flags were present, the parents maintained that they were unaware of any concerning behavior.
The case underscores the complexities of addressing mental health issues and gun safety in the aftermath of mass shootings. The verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children both at home and in educational settings.
Similar lawsuits have been filed following other tragic events, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding accountability and prevention measures in cases of mass violence.
