Families of Uvalde victims sue Meta, video game makers and weapons manufacturers

The families of a group of victims of the Uvalde school massacre announced new lawsuits Friday against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram, the maker of the “Call of Duty” video game, and the gun manufacturer that made the assault rifle used in the shooting.

The lawsuits against Meta, Activision and Daniel Defense were announced on the second anniversary of the attack on Robb Elementary School.

They accuse the two companies of partnering to promote and create content that glorified fighting, gun violence and killing, effectively preparing the teenage shooter to kill 19 students and two teachers in one of the deadliest school massacres in U.S. history.

“There is a direct connection between the conduct of these companies and the shooting in Uvalde,” said Josh Koskoff, an attorney for the families. “This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the gun, made him see it as a means to solve his problems, and trained him to use it.”

Some of the same families filed a $500 million lawsuit Wednesday against Texas State Police officials involved in the botched law enforcement operation that day. More than 370 federal, state and local officers responded but waited more than an hour to confront the gunman in the classroom while students and teachers lay dead, dying or injured.

Friday's lawsuits are not the first accusing technology companies of playing a role in radicalizing or influencing mass murderers. Families of victims of a May 2022 attack on a Buffalo, New York, supermarket sued social media companies including Meta and Instagram over content on their platforms.

The lawsuit against Georgia-based gun manufacturer Daniel Defense was filed in Texas by the same group of 19 families that sued on Wednesday. The lawsuit against Meta and Activision was expected to be filed in California with additional families of victims of the attack.

Activision called the Uvalde shooting “horrific and heartbreaking in every way, and we extend our deepest condolences to the families and communities still affected by this senseless act of violence. Millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts.”

A video game industry group also rejected the claim that games were responsible for the violence, saying that studies had shown no connection.

“We are saddened and outraged by these senseless acts of violence. At the same time, we reject baseless accusations linking these tragedies to video games. They undermine efforts to focus on the underlying problems and prevent future tragedies,” the Entertainment Software Association said.

The amount of damages sought in the new lawsuits was not immediately clear.

According to the lawsuits, the Uvalde shooter had been playing various versions of “Call of Duty” since he was 15, including one that effectively allowed him to practice with the version of the rifle he used in school.

The lawsuit against the gaming company says it has developed a hyper-realistic game in which “the killing is virtual, but the weapons are authentic – they are designed to perfectly mimic their real-world counterparts in look, feel, recoil and accuracy.”

Instagram does little to enforce its rules prohibiting the marketing of firearms and harmful content to children, the lawsuit says.

The family's lawyers said the weapons manufacturer had achieved a “marketing coup” by depicting its weapons in the game.

“At the same time, the shooter was courted on Instagram through explicit, aggressive marketing. In addition to hundreds of images depicting and worshipping the thrill of combat, Daniel Defense used Instagram to praise the illegal, murderous use of his weapons,” the families' lawyers said in a statement.

The Uvalde shooter opened an online account with Daniel Defense before his 18th birthday and purchased the rifle as soon as he could, the lawsuit says.

A separate lawsuit filed in December 2022 by various plaintiffs against local and state police, the city, and other school and police departments seeks at least $27 billion and class action status for survivors. At least two other lawsuits have been filed against Daniel Defense.

Neither Daniel Defense nor Meta immediately responded to emails seeking comment.

In a 2022 congressional hearing, Marty Daniels, CEO of Daniel Defense, called the Uvalde shooting and similar incidents “pure evil” and “deeply disturbing.”

In Uvalde, community members will gather for a vigil Friday night to remember the victims. Other events include a bell ringing and butterfly release at a local church.

“On this solemn day, we want to pray for those we have lost, for their loved ones, and for all who have been injured,” President Joe Biden said in a letter to the community.

“They should still be with us – playing sports, creating art, dancing, laughing, learning, teaching and making new memories with their families and friends,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement. “Today we remember their stories, stand with their loved ones and think of their community.”