UVALDE, Texas - Uvalde families filed a lawsuit against multiple companies Friday, on the second anniversary of the Robb Elementary shooting, claiming they enabled firearm manufacturers to advertise to children.
Families of the victims and survivors of the Robb Elementary School massacre have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Meta, Instagram’s parent company; Activision, the maker of Call of Duty; and Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the AR-15 style assault rifle used in the 2022 attack.
The lawsuits, filed on the second anniversary of the third most deadly school shooting in U.S. history, claim that the companies formed an "unholy trinity" over the past 15 years, preying on insecure adolescent boys. According to the complaints, Meta and Activision have enabled firearm manufacturers to expand their market by granting unprecedented access to children, thus facilitating the promotion and normalization of violence.
"There is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting," said Josh Koskoff, attorney for the families. "Just 23 minutes after midnight on his 18th birthday, the Uvalde shooter bought an AR-15 made by a company with a market share of less than one percent. Why? Because, well before he was old enough to purchase it, he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision, and Daniel Defense. This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems, and trained him to use it."
The complaints detail how Instagram and Activision, through their products, have partnered with Daniel Defense to reach millions of teenagers and pre-teens, effectively mainstreaming violence. The lawsuit against Meta and Activision was filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles, while the case against Daniel Defense was filed in Uvalde District Court.
Activision's Call of Duty franchise is highlighted in the lawsuit for its role in training young, impressionable players to kill, desensitizing them to violence, and rewarding efficient killing. The complaints argue that the game’s realistic depictions of weapons, including the AR-15 used in the Uvalde shooting, contribute to the problem.
Meta’s Instagram is accused of providing a platform for firearm manufacturers to directly target vulnerable adolescent boys. The lawsuits allege that Instagram’s weak enforcement of its own advertising regulations allows gun companies to market their products to children.
In November 2021, the Robb Elementary School shooter downloaded Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which prominently featured the DDM4V7—the gun used in the massacre. Simultaneously, he was exposed to aggressive marketing by Daniel Defense on Instagram. The shooter researched firearms and added the DDM4V7 to his online cart shortly before his 18th birthday. Minutes after midnight on May 16, 2022, he purchased the rifle. Eight days later, he attacked Robb Elementary, killing 19 children and two teachers, and injuring 17 others.
"Instagram should stop enabling the marketing of AR-15s to kids by gun companies, and Activision should stop training and habituating kids to kill. It’s that simple," said Koskoff.
The lawsuits were filed by attorneys Josh Koskoff and Erin Rogiers, along with Katie Mesner-Hage, Colin Antaya, and Alinor Sterling of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder PC.
Activision gave us this statement following the lawsuit:
"The Uvalde shooting was horrendous and heartbreaking in every way, and we express our deepest sympathies to the families and communities who remain impacted by this senseless act of violence. Millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts."
Attempts to reach Meta and Daniel Defense for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication. We will update this article if statements are provided.
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