PARKLAND, FLA. (WSVN) - Nearly eight years after the Parkland shooting, frustrated families said the Broward Sheriff’s Office has not admitted to their alleged shortcomings on that tragic day in 2018, and now the victims’ loved ones want pending lawsuits settled.
Family members addressed reporters on Thursday, as they marked eight years since a lone gunman opened fire inside Building 12 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others.
Because of BSO’s inaction, these parents said, their wounds have not healed, and they are tired of waiting for accountability — from the sheriff’s office and the county.
“I carry the legacy of my son with dignity. That pain makes me do other things,” said Manuel Oliver, parent of victim Joaquin Oliver.
“My family will continue to grieve our loss with an empty chair. BSO has done everything they can to sweep this under the rug. It is disgusting and unacceptable,” said Jennifer Guttenberg, parent of victim Jaime Guttenberg.
The parents say BSO, Sheriff Gregory Tony and the county commission continue to drag their feet by filing motions and appeals in an apparent attempt to avoid a civil jury trial, unlike the federal government and school district which decided to settle the case.
“What we are asking for is a hearing in court where we get to go through their failures, their liability on those failures, in front of a jury,” said Fred Guttenberg, the parent of victim Jaime. “We want them to have to accept liability and responsibility for what they did. Every other failed entity has done that years ago already. They have been delaying this and delaying this and delaying this and, candidly, as a bunch of families, we have finally reached our breaking point. We’ve had enough.”
Fred said BSO is responsible for their failed response to the shooting.
“BSO was waiting outside and failing us. Jaime knew exactly what was happening as she ran down the third floor hallway with a shooter at her back,” he said.
The sheriff department responded to 7News’ request for comment. In a statement, BSO said:
It is understandable that the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy are frustrated at the pace of the litigation. The grounds for the filed motions and appeals are well founded in Florida law, and are not for the purposes of delay. BSO’s filings streamline the issues raised by Plaintiffs and had BSO waited to assert these defenses and immunities at trial, the delay would be compounded.
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