Ballistics experts will conduct a reenactment of the 2018 Parkland massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, as part of a lawsuit accusing a sheriff’s deputy of failing to protect the victims. During the reenactment, up to 139 shots will be fired to capture the sound that the deputy, Scot Peterson, heard during the attack. The shooting, which resulted in 17 deaths and 17 injuries, sparked a nationwide movement for gun control.
Peterson, who worked for the Broward Sheriff’s Office and is also targeted in the lawsuit, claims that he didn’t hear all the shots and couldn’t determine their origin due to echoes. He approached the building’s door and drew his gun but then backed away and stood next to another building for 40 minutes, making radio calls. Peterson has stated that he would have entered the building if he knew the shooter’s location.
The families of the victims bringing the lawsuit argue that Peterson knew the shooter’s location but retreated out of cowardice and in violation of his duty to protect the victims. Peterson, 60, was acquitted of felony child neglect and other criminal charges in June, marking the first trial in the United States of a law enforcement officer for conduct during an on-campus shooting.
The reenactment will involve experts firing live ammunition from the same spots as the shooter, using an identical AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. The sound of the gunfire will be recorded to determine its loudness and direction. The school is currently closed for summer break, and no students or teachers will be present during the reenactment.
The families and wounded individuals involved in the lawsuit are seeking unspecified damages. The test has been allowed by Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, but it has not been determined whether the recording will be played at trial. The defense is likely to oppose the attempt. The date for the trial has not yet been set.
The reenactment aims to disprove some of the statements made during Peterson’s criminal trial. Tony Montalto, president of Stand with Parkland, which represents most of the families, emphasized that Peterson’s acquittal of criminal charges does not absolve him of failing to act appropriately during the tragedy. Montalto’s 14-year-old daughter, Gina, was among those who died in the shooting.
Gunshot recordings are known to be sharper in person, and the reenactment will help determine the loudness of the shots where Peterson was standing. The building’s doors and windows were mostly shut during the shooting, raising questions about the audibility of the gunshots.
Tamara Lave, a law professor at the University of Miami, stated that the reenactment does not have to be perfect but must be close enough to fairly and accurately depict what Peterson heard. The Parkland community has been warned about the reenactment to prevent panic, and a community wellness center, Eagles’ Haven, has organized programs to support residents mentally during the event.
Erika Felix, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who studies community trauma after mass shootings, noted that the reenactment may evoke strong emotions, thoughts, and memories. Before the reenactment, two congressmen, Jared Moskowitz and Mario Diaz-Balart, will lead colleagues from the School Safety and Security Caucus on a tour of the building, which has remained largely untouched since the shooting. The building will be demolished by the Broward school district after the reenactment.
What potential implications could the outcome of this lawsuit have for law enforcement officers’ conduct during on-campus shootings in the future
T hope that the reenactment will provide evidence to support their claims against Peterson. They believe that by recreating the sound and circumstances of the shooting, it will become clear that Peterson had a duty to act and failed in his responsibilities.
The Parkland massacre in 2018 was a tragic event that shook the nation and sparked a renewed debate on gun control. The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resulted in the loss of 17 lives and numerous injuries. In the wake of the tragedy, there has been a push for stronger gun control measures and increased school safety.
The lawsuit against Peterson and the Broward Sheriff’s Office argues that the deputy had knowledge of the shooter’s location but failed to take action to protect the victims. Peterson claims that he did not hear all the shots and could not determine their origin due to echoes. However, the families and victims involved in the lawsuit assert that Peterson’s inaction was a result of cowardice and a violation of his duty to protect.
To gather evidence for their case, ballistics experts will recreate the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Using live ammunition and an identical AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, they will fire up to 139 shots from the same locations as the shooter. The sound of the gunfire will be recorded to determine its volume and direction.
It is important to note that the reenactment will take place while the school is closed for summer break, ensuring that no students or teachers are present. This is done to respect their privacy and prevent any potential distress or trauma.
The families and wounded individuals involved in the lawsuit hope that the reenactment will shed light on Peterson’s actions during the Parkland massacre. They believe that by recreating the circumstances of the shooting, it will become evident whether Peterson had a duty to act and protect the victims. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for law enforcement officers’ conduct during on-campus shootings in the future.
This seems like a controversial and possibly insensitive way to assess someone’s duty to protect victims.
I understand the need to assess the deputy’s duty, but reenacting such a tragic event could be distressing for survivors and their families.