Uvalde, Texas – Families of the victims of the tragic 2022 Uvalde mass shooting have taken legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram, along with the publisher of the video game “Call of Duty” and Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of AR-15 assault rifles. The civil death lawsuits, filed on the second anniversary of the devastating event, accuse the companies of playing a role in turning alienated teenage boys into mass shooters, including the 18-year-old perpetrator, Salvador Ramos.
Ramos entered Robb Elementary School and unleashed a horrific attack, ultimately resulting in the loss of two teachers and 19 students before being fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The legal complaints, filed in California and Texas, revealed that Ramos had downloaded the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” months before the tragedy. Additionally, he purchased the DDM4 V7 firearm, featured in the game, just days before committing the heinous act.
The lawsuits further allege that Ramos was inundated with explicit and aggressive marketing on Instagram, glorifying combat, and promoting illegal and murderous use of weapons by Daniel Defense. The families involved in the legal actions had recently settled with the city for $2 million before pursuing further legal recourse against the mentioned companies. The timing of the legal actions highlights the ongoing pursuit of justice by the families of the victims, seeking accountability for the tragic loss and devastation caused by the incident.
Overall, the legal actions aim to shed light on the potential impact of media and marketing strategies in influencing vulnerable individuals, as well as holding responsible parties accountable for their role in contributing to the tragic event. The pursuit of justice through legal avenues emphasizes the families’ determination to seek accountability and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, advocating for greater awareness and scrutiny of potentially harmful influences in society.
