Two years after the Uvalde school massacre that resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers, families of the victims have filed multiple state lawsuits in California and Texas against social media giant Meta, Activision, and Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the AR-15 used in the shooting. The lawsuits come after the families reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde. One lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against both Activision and Meta, while the second was filed in Uvalde District Court against Daniel Defense. Attorney Josh Koskoff, who represented the families in the settlement, is also representing them in these lawsuits.
The lawsuits claim that Instagram, Activision, and Daniel Defense have been involved in a scheme that preys on insecure adolescent boys. They allege that these companies enabled firearm manufacturers to expand their market by providing children with direct and constant access to their products. The lawsuits further claim that the Uvalde gunman was targeted and cultivated online by these companies, leading him to purchase the AR-15 used in the shooting. The gunman had been playing “Call of Duty” video games, which prominently feature the AR-15, since he was 15, while also being courted by Daniel Defense through Instagram.
According to the lawsuits, the gunman created an account with Daniel Defense and purchased the DDM4V7 AR-15 just eight days before the Uvalde shooting. Koskoff stated that the lawsuits are working in concert with each other, as Instagram facilitated the connection between the adolescent and the gun, with Daniel Defense exploiting the platform for aggressive marketing. Activision expressed sympathy for the tragedy but emphasized that millions enjoy video games without engaging in violent acts. The families also plan to file a $500 million federal lawsuit against state police officers involved in the botched response to the shooting, along with the former school principal and district police chief.
The families allege that the response to the Uvalde shooting was marred by “cascading failures” on the part of law enforcement, as detailed in a 575-page Justice Department report released in January. The report outlined the timeline of events that transpired from when law enforcement arrived at the scene to when the suspect was confronted and killed. The families believe that the botched response contributed to the tragic outcome of the shooting and are seeking accountability through legal action against the involved parties. CBS News has reached out to Meta and Daniel Defense for comment on the litigation, highlighting the ongoing legal battle to hold accountable those believed to have played a role in the Uvalde school massacre.
