Latest news with #Uvalde
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Uvalde school board votes unanimously to release Robb Elementary shooting investigation records
Following 38 months of silence, legal roadblocks and grief, the board members of Uvalde CISD unanimously voted in favor of releasing the records from the horrifying mass shooting at Robb Elementary. The board's vote follows a recent decision by the Fourth Court of Appeals ruling in favor of several news outlets that have requested both school and county records regarding the widely criticized response from law enforcement during the 2022 massacre that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. Ronald Garza, the county commissioner, demanded that the board drop the appeal and release the records, calling the court ruling a victory for the families during the open forum. "These attorneys representing UCISD and Uvalde County ultimately work for the taxpayers... the more this goes on, the more expense the taxpayers are incurring," Garza said. The board reached a decision after approximately 50 minutes in a closed-door session where they heard from the public. The vote comes after a lengthy period of legal resistance and appeals amidst the ongoing investigations. Families of the victims in attendance said that the moment was a long-overdue step toward healing. "For over three years, families like mine have lived with unbearable pain, unanswered questions, and a silence that feels like yet another betrayal," said Gloria Cazares, mother of 9-year-old Jackie Cazares. "It's about making sure what happens to my daughter never happens to another child," Cazares said. "I'm here today to demand the truth. You all owe it to Jackie, to her classmates, to her teachers." The board collectively apologized, and several members expressed remorse for their prior inaction, showing institutional change, not just compliance. Erica Muñoz stated her reason for joining the board was the need to rebuild trust through transparency and compassion. Berinda Areola urged that their healing starts when the records are released. "There's nothing in those records that can hurt us more than the pain we've already endured," said Areola. Board Secretary Jesse Rizo, who lost a niece in the tragedy, apologized during the meeting, saying, "I'm sorry it took so long. I'm sorry we failed you."
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lawyer argues Call of Duty maker can't be held responsible for actions of Texas school shooter
A lawyer for the maker of the video game Call of Duty argued Friday that a judge should dismiss a lawsuit brought by families of the victims of the Robb elementary school attack in Uvalde, Texas, saying the contents of the war game are protected by the first amendment. The families sued Call of Duty maker Activision and Meta Platforms, which owns Instagram, saying that the companies bear responsibility for products used by the teenage gunman. Three sets of parents who lost children in the shooting were in the audience at the Los Angeles hearing. Activision lawyer Bethany Kristovich told superior court Judge William Highberger that the 'first amendment bars their claims, period full stop'. 'The issues of gun violence are incredibly difficult,' Kristovich said. 'The evidence in this case is not.' She argued that the case has little chance of prevailing if it continues, because courts have repeatedly held that 'creators of artistic works, whether they be books, music, movies, TV or video games, cannot be held legally liable for the acts of their audience'. The lawsuit, one of many involving Uvalde families, was filed last year on the second anniversary of one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Officers finally confronted and shot him after waiting more than an hour to enter the fourth-grade classroom. At the hearing, the families' attorney, Josh Koskoff, showed contracts and correspondence between executives at Activision and gun-makers whose products, he said, are clearly and exactly depicted in the game despite brand names not appearing. He said the shooter experienced 'the absorption and the loss of self in Call of Duty'. Koskoff said that immersion was so deep that the shooter searched online for how to obtain an armored suit that he didn't know only exists in the game. Koskoff played a Call of Duty clip, with a first-person shooter gunning down opponents. The shots echoed loudly in the courtroom, and several people in the audience slowly shook their heads. Family lawyers are expected to argue the first amendment issues of the Activision case later Friday. Highberger told the lawyers he wasn't leaning in either direction before the hearing, and it is unlikely he will issue a ruling immediately. Meta was not involved in this hearing or the motion being argued.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Call of Duty maker can't be held responsible for actions of Uvalde school shooter, lawyer argues
A lawyer for the maker of the video game Call of Duty argued Friday that a judge should dismiss a lawsuit brought by families of the victims of the Robb Elementary School attack in Uvalde, Texas, saying the contents of the war game are protected by the First Amendment. The families sued Call of Duty maker Activision and Meta Platforms, which owns Instagram, saying that the companies bear responsibility for promoting products used by the teen gunman. Three sets of parents who lost children in the shooting were in the audience at the Los Angeles hearing. Activision lawyer Bethany Kristovich told Superior Court Judge William Highberger that the "First Amendment bars their claims, period full stop." "The issues of gun violence are incredibly difficult," Kristovich said. "The evidence in this case is not." She argued that the case has little chance of prevailing if it continues, because courts have repeatedly held that "creators of artistic works, whether they be books, music, movies, TV or video games, cannot be held legally liable for the acts of their audience." The lawsuit, one of many involving Uvalde families, was filed last year on the second anniversary of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Officers finally confronted and shot him after waiting more than an hour to enter the fourth-grade classroom. Kimberly Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter Lexi was killed in the shooting, was among the parents who came from Texas to Southern California, where Activision is based, for the hearing. "We traveled all this way, so we need answers," Rubio said outside the courthouse. "It's our hope that the case will move forward so we can get those answers." An attorney for the families argued during the hearing that Call of Duty exceeds its First Amendment protections by moving into marketing. "The basis of our complaint is not the existence of Call of Duty," Katie Mesner-Hage told the judge. "It is using Call of Duty as a platform to market weapons to minors." The plaintiffs' lawyers showed contracts and correspondence between executives at Activison and gunmakers whose products, they said, are clearly and exactly depicted in the game despite brand names not appearing. Mesner-Hage said the documents show that they actually prefer being unlabeled because "it helps shield them from the implication that they are marketing guns to minors," while knowing that players will still identify and seek out the weapons. Kristovich said there is no evidence that the kind of product placement and marketing the plaintiffs are talking about happened in any of the editions of the game the shooter played. The families have also filed a lawsuit against Daniel Defense, which manufactured the AR-style rifle used in the May 24, 2022, shooting. Koskoff argued that a replica of the rifle clearly appears on a splash page for Call of Duty. Josh Koskoff, the families' Connecticut-based lead attorney, also represented families of nine Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims in a lawsuit against gunmaker Remington and got a $73 million lawsuit settlement. He invoked Sandy Hook several times in his arguments, saying the shooters there and in Uvalde shared the same gaming obsession. Koskoff said the Uvalde shooter experienced "the absorption and the loss of self in Call of Duty." He said that immersion was so deep that the shooter searched online for how to obtain an armored suit that he didn't know only exists in the game. Koskoff played a clip from Call of Duty Modern Warfare, the game the shooter played, with a first-person shooter gunning down opponents. The shots echoed loudly in the courtroom, and several people in the audience slowly shook their heads. "Call of Duty is in a class of its own," Koskoff said. Kristovich argued for Activision that the game, despite its vast number of players, can be tied to only a few of the many U.S. mass shootings. "The game is incredibly common. It appears in a scene on 'The Office,'" she said. She added that it is ridiculous to assert that "this is such a horrible scourge that your honor has to essentially ban it through this lawsuit." Highberger told the lawyers he was not leaning in either direction before the hearing. He gave no time frame for when he will rule, but a quick decision is not expected. The judge did tell the plaintiffs' lawyers that their description of Activision's actions seemed like deliberate malfeasance, where their lawsuit alleges negligence. He said that was the biggest hurdle they needed to clear. "Their conduct created a risk of exactly what happened," Mesner-Hage told him. "And we represent the people who are exactly the foreseeable victims of that conduct." Meta's attorneys will make arguments on a similar motion next month.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Uvalde families sue saying video games directed shooter on violence
(NewsNation) — Families of the Uvalde school shooting victims are suing video game and media companies, alleging the shooter was exposed to violence through those platforms before carrying out one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. The families have sued Activision, the maker of the first-person military shooter game 'Call of Duty,' Meta and one other company, reported the Los Angeles Times. They have filed claims for negligence, aiding and abetting and wrongful death. 'To put a finer point on it: Defendants are chewing up alienated teenage boys and spitting out mass shooters,' the complaint stated, according to the outlet. July Fourth holiday marked by shootings in several cities and a fireworks-related death The filing noted that the common thread between school shootings in Uvalde, Parkland and Sandy Hook was that they were all committed by young men who played 'Call of Duty' and used an AR-15, reported the Times. The families say shooter Salvador Ramos was exposed to a virtual version of a Daniel Defense-branded AR-15 in 'Call of Duty,' which he later used in the school shooting. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed and 18 people injured during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. The lawsuit states the AR-15 manufacturer has a market share of less than 1%, but it was promoted in the 'Call of Duty' game, which caught Ramos' eye. 'Call of Duty is a simulation, not a game. It teaches players how to aim, reload, and fire accurately, while habituating the teenage nervous system to inflict repeated, graphic violence. And though the killing is virtual, the weapons are authentic,' the families' complaint alleges, according to the Times. The gamemakers 'created a simulation with real-life weapons and applauded children for their proficiency at killing,' the suit stated. The Uvalde families are also suing Meta, alleging the shooter got ads for the gun that promoted violence on Instagram. 'They glorify these weapons. They made it enticing for young kids to want to purchase these guns, and kids that young are so receptive to these types of things,' Veronica Mata, who lost her daughter in the shooting, told the Times. Active shooter incidents down by 50% in 2024, FBI reports The companies have filed motions to dismiss the complaint, saying their products are constitutionally protected. Activision argued that the First Amendment protects 'Call of Duty' as a work of art. Meta said that legal precedent protects social media platforms from liability for third-party content posted by users and advertisers. 'Call of Duty tells complex stories that explore the real-world combat scenarios that soldiers face in modern warfare. There can be no doubt Call of Duty is expressive and fully protected by the First Amendment,' the gamemaker wrote in court filings, according to the Times. A hearing on whether the lawsuit will move forward is scheduled for Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lawyer argues Call of Duty maker can't be held responsible for actions of Texas school shooter
A lawyer for the maker of the video game Call of Duty argued Friday that a judge should dismiss a lawsuit brought by families of the victims of the Robb elementary school attack in Uvalde, Texas, saying the contents of the war game are protected by the first amendment. The families sued Call of Duty maker Activision and Meta Platforms, which owns Instagram, saying that the companies bear responsibility for products used by the teenage gunman. Three sets of parents who lost children in the shooting were in the audience at the Los Angeles hearing. Activision lawyer Bethany Kristovich told superior court Judge William Highberger that the 'first amendment bars their claims, period full stop'. 'The issues of gun violence are incredibly difficult,' Kristovich said. 'The evidence in this case is not.' She argued that the case has little chance of prevailing if it continues, because courts have repeatedly held that 'creators of artistic works, whether they be books, music, movies, TV or video games, cannot be held legally liable for the acts of their audience'. The lawsuit, one of many involving Uvalde families, was filed last year on the second anniversary of one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Officers finally confronted and shot him after waiting more than an hour to enter the fourth-grade classroom. At the hearing, the families' attorney, Josh Koskoff, showed contracts and correspondence between executives at Activision and gun-makers whose products, he said, are clearly and exactly depicted in the game despite brand names not appearing. He said the shooter experienced 'the absorption and the loss of self in Call of Duty'. Koskoff said that immersion was so deep that the shooter searched online for how to obtain an armored suit that he didn't know only exists in the game. Koskoff played a Call of Duty clip, with a first-person shooter gunning down opponents. The shots echoed loudly in the courtroom, and several people in the audience slowly shook their heads. Family lawyers are expected to argue the first amendment issues of the Activision case later Friday. Highberger told the lawyers he wasn't leaning in either direction before the hearing, and it is unlikely he will issue a ruling immediately. Meta was not involved in this hearing or the motion being argued.
