Santa Fe, Texas – A trial in a civil lawsuit against the parents of the accused gunman charged with the tragic shooting at Santa Fe High School has been postponed by a Galveston County judge. The suit, filed by survivors and family members of the victims, seeks to hold the parents accountable for the massacre that claimed the lives of eight students and two teachers six years ago. Allegations state that the parents failed to properly secure their guns, which the teenage gunman used in carrying out the murders. This lawsuit is believed to be one of the first of its kind nationwide.
Originally scheduled to begin on May 28, the trial has been rescheduled to start on July 29 following a decision by Galveston County Judge Jack Ewing. This delay comes as the criminal trial of the accused shooter, who has been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial, remains indefinitely postponed. The upcoming civil trial will give survivors and relatives their first opportunity to confront the parents of the accused gunman in person.
Legal representatives for the families and survivors have requested an additional mental health evaluation before the trial proceeds. Clint McGuire, an attorney representing several families, mentioned that the trial delay is due to the plaintiffs waiting for evidence from the local district attorney’s office, which is handling related criminal proceedings. The prosecution has agreed to provide relevant information from the accused shooter’s files preceding the tragic event.
While criminal charges have not been filed against the accused shooter’s parents, recent cases like the Michigan sentencing of the parents of the Oxford High School shooter for failing to prevent their son from obtaining a handgun have set a precedent for potential liability. In the civil case, Antonios Pagourtizis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, the accused shooter’s parents, are expected to undergo a deposition process on June 20 to address the allegations of negligence leveled against them.
In their lawsuit, the parents of a high school victim outlined how the accused shooter had easy access to firearms due to the negligent handling and storage of guns by his parents. The case also involved legal action against online ammunition sellers, which led to a settlement last year. Additionally, changes in legislation in 2023 granted families access to autopsy records of their loved ones to provide closure and transparency as the criminal case unfolds. The upcoming trial will be a significant moment for both the families seeking justice and the legal system’s examination of parental responsibility in such tragic events.