In a poignant development ahead of the second anniversary of the tragic Uvalde school shooting, the city has agreed to a $2 million settlement with the families of the victims. The May 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, marking one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
The settlement announcement comes amid continued scrutiny over the law enforcement response during the crisis. A review by the U.S. Justice Department revealed that local police deviated from standard procedures, choosing to wait outside the classrooms for over an hour despite desperate calls for help from the children trapped inside.
“The city of Uvalde has agreed to pay its insurance of $2 million, which is all that there was,” stated Josh Koskoff, a lawyer known for representing families in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The agreement involves the families of 17 deceased children and two surviving children.
As part of the settlement, families have decided not to pursue further legal action against the city. However, they are planning to file lawsuits against the state of Texas and the federal government, focusing on the law enforcement officers’ response. Erin Rogiers, a partner at Guerra LLP, revealed that these lawsuits target 92 Texas Department of Public Safety officers who were present during the incident.
State and federal officers comprised the majority of the 376 law enforcement personnel who delayed their confrontation with the 18-year-old gunman, ultimately waiting 77 minutes before taking action. This prolonged inaction has been a central point of contention for the grieving families.
In December 2022, the victims’ families filed a lawsuit seeking at least $27 billion and class-action status for the survivors, naming local and state police, the city, and various school and law enforcement officials as defendants. The impact of the recent settlement on this larger lawsuit remains uncertain.
