Austin, Texas – Families of 19 victims of a tragic school shooting in Uvalde have announced new lawsuits against Instagram parent company Meta Platforms, the maker of the video game “Call of Duty,” and the gun company that produced the assault rifle used in the attack. The lawsuits were revealed on the two-year anniversary of the devastating incident at Robb Elementary School.
The families accuse Meta, Activision, and Daniel Defense of collaborating to promote and create content that glorifies combat, gun violence, and killing, allegedly contributing to the training of the teenage shooter responsible for taking the lives of 19 students and two teachers. According to attorney Josh Koskoff, there is a direct connection between the actions of these companies and the Uvalde shooting, claiming that they exposed the shooter to the weapon, normalized its use as a problem-solving tool, and trained him in its operation.
In addition to these lawsuits, the same group of families filed a $500 million lawsuit against Texas state police officials and officers involved in the law enforcement response to the shooting. The delayed response of over 370 officers has been criticized for waiting more than an hour before confronting the shooter, leaving students and teachers in danger.
These new lawsuits follow a trend of holding technology companies accountable for potentially influencing mass shooters. Prior cases have targeted social media platforms like Meta and Instagram following attacks in other locations. The lawsuit against Daniel Defense was filed in Texas, while those against Meta and Activision were intended for California.
The lawsuits highlight the shooter’s involvement with violent video games like “Call of Duty,” alleging that the game provided him with virtual practice using the same rifle he later used at the school. They also accuse Instagram of failing to enforce rules prohibiting the marketing of firearms and harmful content to children.
In a statement, the families’ attorneys described a scenario where the shooter was exposed to aggressive marketing on Instagram by Daniel Defense, ultimately leading him to open an online account with the company before acquiring the weapon. The lawsuits seek damages, but the exact amount was not disclosed.
Despite these allegations, Daniel Defense, Meta, and Activision have not yet responded to requests for comment. In a previous congressional hearing, Daniel Defense CEO Marty Daniels condemned the Uvalde shooting and similar incidents as “pure evil” and “deeply disturbing.” The community of Uvalde plans to commemorate the victims with a vigil, bell ringing, and butterfly release, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris offer their condolences to the grieving community.