Uvalde, Texas – Family members affected by the tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary in 2022 have reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde. In addition to the settlement, the families are pursuing legal action against the Texas Department of Public Safety officers and the school district in connection with the deadly rampage that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. One lawsuit includes a $500 million federal suit against nearly 100 state police officers involved in the law enforcement response to the shooting, which has been heavily criticized.
The settlement, announced on Wednesday, will see the city of Uvalde paying a total of $2 million to the families of the 17 children who lost their lives in the tragedy and the two children who survived. The funds for the settlement will come from the city’s insurance coverage, as stated by attorney Josh Koskoff during a news conference.
The families’ attorneys also mentioned that the city will provide enhanced training for police officers and develop new standards in coordination with the U.S. Justice Department. Furthermore, the city committed to supporting mental health services for affected families, survivors, and community members, as well as establishing a memorial committee and designating May 24 as an annual day of remembrance.
Moreover, the families are taking legal action against 92 state Department of Public Safety officers and the school district, including former principal Mandy Gutierrez and police chief Pete Arredondo. The families’ attorneys criticized the response of law enforcement officers, stating that lives could have been saved if generally accepted practices had been followed. A Justice Department report released in January referred to the police response as a failure.
At the news conference, Koskoff mentioned the families’ intention to sue the federal government down the line, highlighting the delay in response by over 150 federal officers present at the scene. The families seek justice and accountability for the systemic failures and loss of life that occurred during the tragic school shooting in Uvalde.