Title: Civil Lawsuit Involving Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting Includes Live Reenactment
Date: [Insert Date]
Source: CNN
At least 140 live rounds of bullets will be fired inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Friday as part of a civil lawsuit against former sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson. The reenactment aims to demonstrate Peterson’s alleged failure to respond during the 2018 mass shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people and injured 17 others.
The reenactment, which is expected to last several hours, will take place in the three-story building where the violence unfolded. A ballistic trap will be used to capture the fired bullets. The plaintiffs, including several victims’ families and a survivor, hope to prove that Peterson heard the sounds of gunshots and knew their origin.
Peterson was found not guilty of criminal charges in June, with prosecutors accusing him of negligence and failing to confront the shooter. Peterson argued that he did not enter the building due to the confusion caused by echoes on campus.
The plan for the reenactment includes using the same model of semiautomatic rifle and caliber of cartridges as the shooter used. The fire alarm will also be sounded at the same times as on the day of the shooting. The reenactment is expected to last approximately two hours and will occur while the school is closed with no students present.
Meanwhile, before the reenactment, a bipartisan congressional delegation, along with several families of the victims, will tour the site of the massacre. The purpose of the tour is to provide members of Congress with a firsthand understanding of the events that unfolded on that tragic day. The families of the victims hope that this will lead to the implementation of “good, common sense school safety legislation”.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School building where the shooting occurred is planned for demolition. However, the demolition will not be completed before the new school year begins on August 21. The families of the victims advocate for using the building as an educational tool to prevent future tragedies.
For Max Schachter, whose son was killed in the shooting, the reenactment and tour will be emotionally challenging, as it will remind him of the horror his son endured. However, he believes it is an essential step in ensuring that the events surrounding the shooting are accurately understood by a jury.
Schachter’s ultimate goal is to prioritize the safety and security of students to prevent similar incidents in the future. He hopes that the reenactment and the tour will serve as a stark reminder to members of Congress that immediate action is needed to prevent further loss of life in school shootings.
As the civil lawsuit unfolds and the reenactment takes place, it remains to be seen whether it will result in answers and justice for the victims and their families.