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The families of victims who were killed in the Uvalde school shooting have initiated two wrongful death lawsuits against the firearm manufacturer and two technology companies, Meta and Microsoft, for their alleged roles in marketing the weapon used in the attack.
These lawsuits were filed on the second anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting, where an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children, two teachers, and injured 17 others. The first lawsuit targets Daniel Defense, a Georgia-based weapons manufacturer responsible for producing the rifle used in the shooting. The second lawsuit, lodged in the Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Meta and Microsoft’s subsidiary, Activision Blizzard, of contributing to the gunman’s mindset through their platforms and products.
The lawsuit against Activision Blizzard argues that the video game “Call of Duty,” which features realistic depictions of firearms, played a significant role in influencing the gunman’s actions. The families claim that the gunman had been exposed to the game since he was 15, which allegedly desensitized him to violence and led him to seek out the specific weapon used in the shooting upon turning 18.
In addition to the video game influence, the lawsuit argues that Instagram’s pro-gun marketing exacerbated the situation. The families claim that the shooter was bombarded with violent imagery and aggressive marketing tactics by Daniel Defense on Instagram, reinforcing his violent tendencies.
Josh Koskoff, the attorney representing the families, stated, “There is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting.” He likened the combined influence of the companies to a “three-headed monster” that exposed the shooter to the weapon, conditioned him to view it as a solution to his problems, and trained him in its use.
Daniel Defense, already facing other lawsuits related to the Uvalde shooting, has previously denounced such attacks as “pure evil” while labeling similar lawsuits as “frivolous” and “politically motivated.” Meanwhile, Activision Blizzard and a video game industry lobbying group have expressed condolences for the shooting but rejected accusations linking video games to such violent acts.
The families’ legal actions also follow a recent $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde, after the Department of Justice found significant failures in the law enforcement response to the shooting. Additionally, a federal lawsuit has been filed against the state police officers involved in the incident.
