Latest news with #schoolshooting
Yahoo
4 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.
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Lawyer argues Call of Duty maker can't be held responsible for actions of Uvalde, Texas, shooter
Gloria Cazares, right, holds hands with Veronica Mata during a break in a court hearing in a lawsuit between victims' families in the 2022 Uvalde, Texas school shooting and Meta Platforms on July 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer / AP Photo) LOS ANGELES — 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 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. At the hearing, the families' attorney, Josh Koskoff, showed contracts and correspondence between executives at Activison 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. Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
Calgary teen charged after James Fowler High School lockdown
Calgary police vehicles can be seen in front of James Fowler High School on June 3, 2025, during a lockdown. (CTV News) A 17-year-old Calgary teen is facing charges in connection with a lockdown at James Fowler High School. Police were called to the school, located in the 4000 block of Fourth Street N.W., at 12:35 p.m. on June 3 after a teen entered the building with a gun. Investigators say it was a 15-year-old girl who called 911 to report the incident. 'Prior to the 911 call, it is believed the male and female had a brief verbal altercation off school property, and it was reported that the male entered the school with a firearm, resulting in a lockdown,' police explained in a Thursday news release. Both teens were students at the school. Arriving officers determined the suspect was no longer in the school and not a threat to those inside. Despite this, officers worked to search each room of the school and ensure it was safe. The lockdown is believed to have lasted approximately two hours. The teen taken into custody – who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act – is charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public mischief and carrying a concealed weapon. He is scheduled to appear in court next on June 27.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lubbock police chief pleased with department, city response during active shooter training
It is all too common to see a media outlet reporting a school shooting, with seven occurring so far in 2025, according to Education Weekly. Just two months ago, Texas saw one of those shootings in Dallas. According to the Texas Tribune, a suspect opened fire at Wilmer-Hutchins High School — the second shooting incident at the school in just over a year — injuring four students. Others are reading: Texas DPS IDs Lubbock man killed after falling off truck's flatbed in Garza County The City of Lubbock and Lubbock Independent School District partnered to host a full-scale active shooter training at Atkins Middle School for local law enforcement so they would be prepared in case the situation ever happens. After a full morning of exercises involving the Lubbock Police Department, LPD SWAT team, emergency services and many others, Police Chief Seth Herman said he was pleased with how well the department handled the mock scenario. "What we learn a lot in these training events is, what do we lack as far as, not just technology, but any kind of hard standard tools such as breaching tools, or different items that will allow us to keep a door open or to mark a position?" Herman said. "It sounds like a small thing, but it's really big when it comes to ensuring a rapid response." This situation also included as many real elements as possible, with Herman saying a secondary event was also taking place at the same time as this training was going on. All of this was done to test the communications and capabilities of each entity to ensure a successful outcome. "Anything of this nature, active shooter specifically, there's ongoing trainings necessary to keep our people fresh and capable," Herman said. "Only through good quality training do you have a rapid and integrated as well as efficient response." While it is uncommon for the city to host full-scale exercises like this one, Herman said the public can expect to see them on a routine basis to help prepare to ensure everyone is adequately prepared. Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock police, LISD, city host active shooter training
RNZ News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Germany: New chancellor's controversial Israel remarks
Gun control measures are being tightened in Austria following a deadly school shooting. Photo: AFP / Alex Halada Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow looks at the reaction to comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, after he praised Israel for attacking Iran's nuclear enrichment sites. It earned the German ambassador a summoning to Iran's Foreign Ministry. And Austria plans tighter gun control measures following the school shooting in Graz which left 11 dead, including the 21-year-old gunman. Thomas Sparrow is RNZ's correspondent in Germany
