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WASHINGTON – A US$27 billion (RM119 billion) class-action suit filed by survivors of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary is the first to name Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw among 19 other defendants.
The May shooting in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 fourth-graders and two teachers dead, with members of the public calling for McCraw and others in law enforcement to be held accountable for their response.
McCraw has refused to step down from his post, defending the actions of law enforcement on that fateful day, according to United Press International.
While the deadliest school shooting in Texas history was taking place inside Robb Elementary, law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies waited 77 minutes before engaging with and killing the 18-year-old gunman.
The survivors are seeking the large sum because of the psychological damages they have suffered, the lead attorney in the case, Charles Bonner, said during a press conference yesterday.
“This US$27 billion suit is to let them know that we value our children’s lives,” Bonner said.
“We have to have enough money to get their attention.”
According to Bonner, many of the children struggle to sleep, fear being left alone and show other signs of trauma as a result of the events in their elementary school.
“Their brains are now permanently injured,” Bonner said.
The suit is also the first suit to name DPS regional director Victor Escalon as a defendant.
Many of the defendants in the suit are also facing federal suits from survivors and family members of Robb Elementary students.
In a separate suit, the city of Uvalde is suing district attorney Christina Mitchell to uncover records of the investigation into police response on the day of the shooting, the Texas Tribune reported.
The suit alleges Mitchell is restricting information needed for an independent investigation. The city seeks to compel Mitchell to turn over all relevant information. – Bernama, December 2, 2022