MARSHALL COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The families of four students shot in last January’s shooting rampage at Marshall County High Schools have sued the school district.
The families of Bailey Holt, Dalton Keeling, Mary Bella James and Gage Smock filed the lawsuit Jan. 21 in Marshall County Circuit Court.
Holt was killed in the shooting. Gabriel Parker, who was 15 at the time, has been charged with two counts of murder and 14 counts of aggravated assault.
The suit — which names the school board, the superintendent, the school’s principal, assistant principal and the mother of the alleged shooter as defendants — alleges that there were not enough protections in place at the school.
The lawsuit claims that school leaders “knew or should have known of Parker’s dangerous propensities and failed to take any action to monitor, report, intervene, or prevent the actions of Defendant Parker.”
The plaintiffs also allege that Parker’s mother and stepfather were negligent in securing the firearm used in the shooting.
The suit asks for compensatory, exemplary and punitive damages
The family of Preston Cope, who also was shot and killed, is not involved in the suit.
