On the second anniversary of the tragic Uvalde school shooting, families of the victims have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Meta (parent company of Instagram), Activision (publisher of ‘Call of Duty’), and Daniel Defense (manufacturer of the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack), alleging that the companies ‘groomed’ the shooter by exposing him to violent content and aggressive marketing of firearms online.
On the second anniversary of the tragic Uvalde school shooting, families of the victims have filed wrongful death lawsuits against three companies: Meta (parent company of Instagram), Activision (publisher of “Call of Duty”), and Daniel Defense (manufacturer of the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack). The lawsuits, filed in California and Texas, allege that these companies “groomed” the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, by exposing him to violent content and aggressive marketing of firearms online.
The suits claim that Ramos began playing “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” in November 2021, which featured a weapon from Daniel Defense. Simultaneously, he was targeted through Instagram’s marketing. On his 18th birthday, Ramos purchased a DDM4V7 rifle, and eight days later, he killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School.
The lawsuits argue that Daniel Defense and Instagram’s marketing practices, combined with the immersive experience of violent video games, contributed to Ramos’s actions. The families are represented by Josh Koskoff, who previously won a $73 million settlement for Sandy Hook families against Remington.
Activision has expressed sympathy for the families but stated that millions play their games without resorting to violence. Meta and Daniel Defense have not responded to requests for comment. The cases face significant legal hurdles due to protections for online platforms and firearm manufacturers under federal law.
