In a recent ruling, a jury found that Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, parents of accused Santa Fe High School shooter Dimitrios Pagourtzis, were not legally responsible for the 2018 massacre that resulted in the deaths of 10 people and injuries to 13 others. According to a report obtained by FOX San Antonio, the civil suit sought at least $1 million in damages, holding the shooter's parents accountable for not properly securing their firearms and failing to address their son's mental health issues.
The defense argued that the parents had locked up their guns, and had no way of anticipating the violent actions of their son. "I am not trying to take anything away from the pain and the suffering and the terrible things that happened to the plaintiffs but my clients were also made victims of this as well," said Lori Laird, the parent's attorney, as reported by FOX San Antonio. However, the jury shifted liability towards Dimitrios Pagourtzis himself and a firearms ammunition retailer, culminating in an award to the victims’ families of more than $300 million in damages.
During the trial, which spanned three weeks, prosecutors accused the shooter's parents of negligence for not taking preventive measures or seeking psychiatric treatment for their son prior to the tragedy. In a statement obtained by TPR, Galveston County Judge Jack Ewing addressed the jury emphasizing the importance of protecting children and ensuring their safety at school. The jury concluded that the responsibility for the massacre lay entirely with Dimitrios Pagourtzis and Lucky Gunner, the ammunition company.
While the case against the Pagourtzis has been resolved, the accused shooter's trial remains on hold. Pagourtzis' mental competence has been called into question, ultimately delaying his trial indefinitely. Meanwhile, it remains unresolved how, or whether, the families will receive the multimillion-dollar payout owed to them, considering Lucky Gunner's earlier settlement and Pagourtzis’ current placement in a state hospital, as noted by TPR.
