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.
How do the families and wounded individuals involved in the lawsuit plan to use the reenactment of the shooting to support their claims against Peterson?
Wsuit hope that the reenactment will provide evidence to support their claims that Peterson failed to fulfill his duty in protecting the victims. By recreating the sound and location of the shots, they aim to demonstrate that Peterson had enough information to intervene and potentially save lives during the Parkland massacre.
The shooting, which took place on February 14, 2018, had a profound impact on the nation, leading to widespread calls for stricter gun control regulations. It resulted in the tragic loss of 17 lives and injuries to 17 others. The families of the victims believe that Peterson’s actions, or lack thereof, played a role in the devastating outcome. They assert that Peterson failed to act due to cowardice, despite having knowledge of the shooter’s location.
Peterson, who had been employed by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, claims that he did not hear all the shots and was unable to determine their source due to echoes. He explains that he drew his gun and approached the building’s door but eventually retreated to stand next to another building, making radio calls for assistance. Peterson has stated that if he had known the shooter’s location, he would have entered the building to confront the threat.
In the lawsuit, the families argue that Peterson’s actions were a violation of his duty to protect the victims. They claim that he knew the shooter’s location but chose to retreat out of cowardice. In June, Peterson was acquitted of felony child neglect and other criminal charges, marking the first trial in the United States of a law enforcement officer for their conduct during an on-campus shooting.
To gather further evidence for their case, ballistics experts will conduct a reenactment of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. During the reenactment, experts will fire up to 139 shots using the same type of weapon used by the shooter. The goal is to record the sound of the gunfire and analyze its loudness and direction. The reenactment will take place when the school is closed for summer break, ensuring the safety and well-being of all involved.
By recreating the circumstances of the shooting, the families and wounded individuals involved in the lawsuit hope to strengthen their case against Peterson. They believe that the reenactment will provide valuable insights into Peterson’s actions and potentially prove his negligence in protecting the victims. Ultimately, they seek justice for their loved ones and accountability in the aftermath of the tragic Parkland massacre.
This lawsuit will hopefully shed light on the responsibilities and duties of law enforcement officers in preventing mass shootings.
It’s important for the truth to be revealed and for any neglect or wrongdoing to be addressed in order to prevent similar tragedies in the future.