Documents received from Marshall County Circuit Court show that the complaint was filed Monday by the estate of shooting victim Bailey Holt, along with her parents, Jason and Secret Holt, and three students who were injured, Gage Smock, Mary Bella James and Dalton Keeling. Sixteen defendants were named, including alleged shooter Gabriel Parker, his mother and step-father, Marshall County Schools superintendent and school board members, school administrators and counselors, and the school resource officer. Unknown other school officials and personal counselors were also listed as defendants in the suit.
The suit claims the school defendants are liable because they, "knew or should have known of Gabriel Parker's dangerous propensities and failed to take any action," and says there were no security measures to stop him from entering the common area of the school with a loaded weapon and opening fire. The suit also claims the school defendants failed to keep the students safe, and failed to enact or implement an appropriate emergency action plan.
The lawsuit says Parker is liable because of his actions, and that Justin and Mary Garrison Minyard were negligent because they knew or should have known that Gabriel could be dangerous, but allowed him to have access to the weapon that was used.
The suit also holds liable unnamed private counselors who provided their services to Parker prior to the shooting, since information they received should have prompted them to notify authorities that Parker was dangerous.
The plaintiffs in the suit are asking for a jury trial, and for compensatory, exemplary and punitive damages as deemed reasonable by the court. They are also asking for their court costs to be paid by the defendants.
Parker is accused of opening fire at the school on Jan. 23, 2018, killing Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, and injuring more than a dozen others. He faces two counts of murder and 14 counts of 1st degree assault in the criminal case.
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Lawsuit Document
