A jury in Galveston, Texas, decided that the parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a former student accused of killing 10 people in a 2018 school shooting near Houston, cannot be held responsible for the tragedy. The victims’ lawsuit sought to hold the parents financially liable for the shooting at Santa Fe High School, alleging that they failed to provide necessary support for their son’s mental health and did not do enough to prevent him from accessing their guns. While the jury held Dimitrios Pagourtzis responsible, they awarded families more than $300 million in damages for pain and mental anguish.
Authorities say Pagourtzis fatally shot eight students and two teachers during the school shooting. Now 23, he has been charged with capital murder, but the criminal case has been on hold since 2019 when he was declared incompetent to stand trial. Despite the verdict, the judge emphasized the need to protect children and ensure their safety both at school and at home, hoping the message would urge legislators to take action. In contrast, Jennifer and James Crumbley were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for their involvement in a mass school shooting in Michigan, becoming the first parents convicted in such a case. Pagourtzis’ parents have not been accused of any crime.
The lawsuit was filed by relatives of seven of the people killed and four of the 13 wounded in the Santa Fe attack. Pagourtzis’ attorney argued that his client, who planned the shooting, was not in control of his actions due to his severe mental illness. On the other hand, the victims’ attorney highlighted red flags the parents had missed, such as their son’s depression, deteriorating grades, isolation, and online purchases of weapons and disturbing items. Despite testifying during the trial, both parents claimed they were unaware of these warning signs, emphasizing that they had not seen any red flags regarding their son’s mental state or his online purchases.
Antonios Pagourtzis, who worked in ship maintenance and repair, and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, who works as an executive assistant, stored firearms in a gun safe in the garage and a display cabinet in the living room. Their son utilized his mother’s handgun and father’s shotgun during the shooting, sparking debate during the trial on how he accessed the weapons and where he found the keys. The family argued that it is impossible to secure anything 100%. Lucky Gunner, an online retailer that sold Pagourtzis more than 100 rounds of ammunition without verifying his age, was a defendant in the lawsuit until reaching a settlement with the families. Similar lawsuits have been initiated following other mass shootings, citing failures to prevent access to firearms and provide proper mental health care.
In conclusion, while Dimitrios Pagourtzis was held responsible for the school shooting that claimed 10 lives in 2018, his parents were not found liable for the tragedy. Despite the jury’s decision, the case sheds light on the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children, both at school and at home. The lawsuit filed by the victims’ families sought financial compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the shooting, bringing attention to the need for improved mental health support and gun safety measures. The case highlights the challenges of identifying warning signs of mental illness and preventing access to firearms, sparking discussions on legislative actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
