Parkland survivors to file first lawsuits against school, FBI

Two survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., have announced they will sue the school, the FBI and the local sheriff’s office for failing to prevent the deadly February attack. 

Anthony Borges, 15, and his family said on Monday that he intends to sues the Broward County Public School District and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Miami Herald.

The lawsuit, when it is filed, will allege that there should have been more done to protect students and teachers inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 when a former student walked into the school and killed 17 people. 

{mosads}“The failure of Broward County Public Schools and of the principal and school resource officer to adequately protect students, and in particular our client, from life-threatening harm were unreasonable, callous and negligent,” attorney Alex Arreaza wrote in the letter of intent. “Such action or inaction led to the personal injuries sustained by my client.”

The Broward County sheriff’s deputy who was guarding the school at the time has been heavily criticized for failing to enter the building where the shooting took place.

Borges was shot five times, twice in the torso and three times in his legs. His family is suing to seek money for the cost of his recovery. He already has had several surgeries and is still in the hospital. 

Arreaza wrote that his client is still unable to walk and requires constant assistance for even the simplest tasks. 

Borges is a Boy Scout and used those lessons to create a tourniquet on himself to stop the bleeding. He has been hailed as a hero by classmates after he tried to close and lock the classroom door when he was shot, saving about 20 other people as the gunman got closer. 

Another student announced on Tuesday that he also intends to sue the school and sheriff’s office, but his attorney also reportedly sent similar letters to the FBI and Florida’s Department of Children and Families, the Miami Herald reported.  

Kyle Laman, 15, intends to file a lawsuit targeting each agency for failing to protect the students from suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz and for not acting on tips sent to the FBI about how dangerous Cruz was.

The FBI admitted that it had failed to follow “protocols” when it received a tip about Cruz, saying he had a desire to kill and had talked about a possible school shooting.

Laman was shot in the right foot and has had two major surgeries to reconstruct ligaments, with more scheduled in the future. 

He reportedly gave cops a more accurate description of Cruz while he lay injured in school, helping lead to his arrest.

A Broward County spokeswoman declined to comment to the Miami Herald regarding the letters.