DOJ Settles Lawsuit Over Failure to Share Gunman's Criminal History
(MENAFN) The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to pay $144.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit filed by more than 75 plaintiffs who claimed that the U.S. Air Force could have prevented the 2017 mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, by transmitting the gunman's criminal history to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The lawsuit alleged that the government failed to share background information about former Air Force serviceman Devin Patrick Kelley, who later killed 26 people in a shooting spree.
The settlement comes after a federal judge ruled that the government was liable for damages caused by the shooting after it failed to transmit Kelley's criminal history into the NICS system. The plaintiffs claimed that Kelley was able to purchase weapons from a federally licensed dealer, which he used in the mass shooting, because the Air Force did not report his criminal record, including a domestic violence conviction, to the FBI.
The settlement is one of the largest ever paid by the US government in a case involving a mass shooting. The DOJ described the settlement as an "agreement in principle" and stated that it would bring the litigation to a close, ending a painful chapter for the victims of the tragedy.
Associate US Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a statement, "No words or amount of money can diminish the immense tragedy of the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs. Today's announcement brings the litigation to a close, ending a painful chapter for the victims of this unthinkable crime."
The settlement has been welcomed by the plaintiffs, who believe that it sends a message to the government that it must be accountable for its mistakes. Some of the plaintiffs expressed hope that the settlement would encourage the government to take action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In conclusion, the DOJ's settlement of $144.5 million marks a significant moment for the victims of the Sutherland Springs shooting, who have been seeking justice since the tragedy occurred. While the settlement will not bring back their loved ones or erase the trauma they have experienced, it serves as an important reminder of the government's responsibility to act in the best interests of its citizens and to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
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