An attorney representing the parents of a Texas student accused of a school shooting near Houston in 2018 told trial jurors that the parents were unaware their son would have a psychotic breakdown. The victims’ lawyers argue that the student, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, displayed signs that he needed help.
The victims have filed a lawsuit seeking financial damages from Pagourtzis and his parents for the shooting at Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018. They are seeking at least $1 million in damages.
The jury began deliberating the case late on a Friday afternoon and will resume on Monday morning.
The victims’ attorneys claim that the parents neglected to provide proper mental health support for their son and did not take sufficient measures to prevent him from accessing their firearms.
“It was their son, under their roof, with their guns who carried out this mass shooting,” said Clint McGuire, representing some of the victims, during closing statements in the Galveston courtroom.
Authorities say Pagourtzis, who was 17 at the time, fatally shot eight students and two teachers.
Pagourtzis, now 23, has been charged with capital murder but has been deemed incompetent to stand trial and is being held in a state mental health facility.
Lori Laird, representing Pagourtzis’ parents, argued that their son’s mental breakdown was unforeseeable, and he concealed his plans from them. She also stated that the parents kept their firearms securely locked.
In April, Jennifer and James Crumbley were sentenced to prison after becoming the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. Pagourtzis’ parents have not been charged with any crime.
The lawsuit, filed by relatives of seven victims and four survivors of the Santa Fe attack, highlights the ongoing trauma experienced by the survivors and families of the victims.
Representing Pagourtzis, attorney Roberto Torres claimed that his client’s severe mental illness prevented him from being in control of his actions. He emphasized the parents’ responsibility in monitoring their son.
McGuire urged jurors to hold Pagourtzis accountable, citing evidence of his meticulous planning and intent to cause harm. He described Pagourtzis as depressed but filled with rage.
Laird argued that the parents were not aware of their son’s plans and showcased family photos and activities to illustrate a normal family life.
Kosmetatos, Pagourtzis’ mother, acknowledged her son’s changed behavior but emphasized that he was a normal child with no significant issues.
The family stored their firearms securely, but Pagourtzis accessed them during the shooting. The source of the weapons was debated during the trial.
Similar lawsuits have been filed following other mass shootings, highlighting the complex issues surrounding gun violence and mental health.
By Jamie Stengle
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