With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
Parents of Saugus High School Shooting Victims Sue School District
Students reunite with their parents in Santa Clarita's Central Park after a shooting at Saugus High School on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
The parents of two Saugus High School students who were shot and killed on campus in 2019 are suing the school district for $50 million.
What's in the lawsuit
Dominic Blackwell, 14, and Gracie Muehlberger, 15, were killed by a classmate. Their parents, Frank and Nancy Blackwell and Bryan and Cindy Muehlberger, believe their deaths were preventable, according to court records filed this week.
Julie Feber is the Muehlberger’s attorney. She said both families think Saugus High School, and the William S. Hart Union High School District, didn’t do enough to prevent the school shooting.
Support for LAist comes from
“They knew it was coming, but they just hadn’t prepared,” Feber said.
Saugus High School had a text-to-tip hotline where students could report concerns about their classmates, but Feber said the number wasn’t working at the time. She said the campus supervisors who were supposed to be monitoring the front gates that morning weren’t there, and neither was the L.A. Sheriff's Department deputy student resource officer.
The backstory
Blackwell and Muehlberger were killed and three more students were injured when a Saugus High School junior opened fire on campus on Nov. 14, 2019.
The shooter, a 16-year-old boy, was among the wounded students found when authorities arrived at the school. He died the next day from a self-inflicted head wound. L.A. County sheriff's officials at the time of the shooting said that the attack was planned and deliberate. They also said the victims appeared to be randomly targeted.
Support for LAist comes from
What the district says
Dominic Quiller represents the William S. Hart Union High School District. In a statement to LAist he said:
"The Hart District has always, and will continue to, offer our support to the Blackwell and Muehlberger families. The District, however, believes that it took all necessary steps to protect its students."
What's next
The case is set to go to trial on Oct. 30, but Feber believes it will be pushed to January 2024.
Go deeper: …to learn more about the shooting
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.” -
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week. -
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to declare immigration enforcement actions a local emergency. -
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues. -
People in and around recent burn scars should be alert to the risk of debris flows. Typical October weather will be back later this week. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce.
Best of LAist