St. Louis, Mo. — The family of a teacher who lost her life during a tragic school shooting in 2022 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a prominent healthcare provider. The suit alleges that BJC Health Systems failed to inform the school district about the shooter’s previous expressions of violent intent towards his former school.
Jean Kuczka’s relatives, including her husband and children, submitted the lawsuit on the third anniversary of the violent incident at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. Kuczka, who served as a health and physical education teacher, tragically died while shielding students from danger. Another victim, 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell, also perished in the shooting, which resulted in injuries to seven others.
According to Todd Nissenholtz, the family’s attorney, this incident was not merely a horrific event but a preventable tragedy. “Instead of a safe school environment, we have a hero who sacrificed herself to protect her students,” he stated, highlighting the profound loss experienced by Kuczka’s family and the broader school community.
The shooter, 19-year-old Orlando Harris, who had previously attended Central Visual and Performing Arts, was killed by police during the incident. Reports indicate that he had been grappling with mental health issues for several years. Approximately two months prior to the shooting, Harris allegedly confided in multiple mental health providers about his thoughts of violence directed at his former school, according to the lawsuit.
Among these providers, psychiatrist Dr. Hetal Patel was said to have spoken with Harris shortly before the shooting. During their session, he reportedly mentioned thoughts of attacking the school but downplayed them as fleeting. However, the lawsuit contends that statements found in Harris’s car indicated a far more serious premeditation than was communicated to authorities or school officials.
The legal action claims that BJC did not alert the school after Harris’s mother informed staff about his recent purchase of an AR-15 rifle just days before the shooting. Nissenholtz argues that BJC had a duty to breach patient confidentiality given the imminent danger Harris posed.
“Everyone acknowledges that the greater the peril, the greater the responsibility,” he emphasized, noting the significant threat such behavior poses to a school filled with students and staff. The family is now seeking at least $100 million in damages for their loss.
In response, BJC stated that it intends to vigorously defend against the allegations. The family’s legal claim brings to light critical discussions about mental health protocol and the responsibilities of healthcare providers in safeguarding public safety, particularly in educational settings.