Parents of Oregon School Shooting Victim Hire Attorneys
Legal team to investigate school protocols and how the teenage gunman acquired his weapon.
The parents of Rhoam Summer, 5, one of three children killed in a recent shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, have hired attorneys to investigate the school's safety protocols and the acquisition of the weapon used by the 16-year-old gunman.
Attorneys Tim Williams and a colleague announced the investigation Saturday, stating their work will examine whether the school had an active shooter protocol and how the student, Griffin J. John II, obtained the 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. The victim's parents, Kelik and Lillian Summer, initially retained legal counsel to manage media inquiries before expanding the scope to include these investigations.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook stated Friday that the district has made significant investments in security measures, including cameras, locks, and fencing. He added that the district conducts lockdown drills twice annually and will conduct a thorough review of its safety procedures.
The attorneys are also probing the gun's purchase. A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that the shooter's mother bought the shotgun. "We don’t know if the shooter’s mother qualified to own a firearm. We don’t know whether or not the dealer was aware that the firearm was being bought for a minor," Williams said, noting these are "various issues there we’re trying to suss out."
Under Oregon law, minors may possess shotguns if given by a parent or with parental consent. The shooter's mother, Shauntai Nickerson, has not responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. She told some reporters outside her apartment that she would have prevented the shooting if she could have.
Authorities reported that John entered the school by firing through locked doors. He was not currently enrolled in the Bend-La Pine district but had previously been a special needs student at Silver Rail Elementary.
The legal team aims to determine if the school district bears liability and, if so, to work towards a resolution that could help prevent future tragedies. Classes and activities at the district were suspended Monday and Tuesday, and no reopening date has been set for Silver Rail Elementary.