Two students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 have plans to file a lawsuit against the Broward School Board, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and FBI, alleging that they failed to keep everyone safe during the massacre.
Anthony Borges, 15, was the first Stoneman Douglas student to come out and say that he would be pursuing a civil case against authorities over the shooting. He was shot five times in his back and both legs as he tried to close and lock a classroom door. He has had several surgeries for his injuries, but still can’t walk or do routine tasks.
His lawyers plan to sue Broward County Public Schools, Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ principal and its school resource officer, in addition to local authorities.
“The failure of Broward County Public Schools and of the Principal and School Resource officer to adequately protect students, and in particular our client, from life-threatening harm were unreasonable, callous and negligent,” his lawyer, Alex Arreaza, wrote.
Kyle Laman, 15, also plans to sue over negligence. He had to have two surgeries to reconstruct his right ankle and foot after getting shot.
“Kyle is still dealing with memories of the terror he felt when his classroom was locked and he was stuck in the hallway during the shooting,” a spokesman for The Berman Law Group, which is representing Laman, told the Sentinel in a statement. “Everyone was running scared. Kyle looked at the gunman staring right back at him, and instinctively jumped for cover. The bullets were flying, and doctors told his mom one tore through his ankle and foot.”
Kyle’s lawyers sent a letter to the FBI, Henderson Behavioral Health and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
His lawyers claim that the Florida Department of Children and Families determined that alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz wasn’t a risk “and apparently did nothing to assist in the prevention of the mass shooting” although there were “warning signs stretching back over a decade.”
Cruz was indicted on 34 counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder on Wednesday regarding the shooting that killed 17 people last month.
He is accused of shooting teachers and students in several classrooms at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Cruz was identified from school security videos and was arrested later that day as he walked down the side of a road.
Cruz is currently being held at Broward County jail and is segregated from other inmates.
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