The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a tentative settlement of $144.5 million with the victims and relatives impacted by the devastating 2017 mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. This agreement comes after an extended legal battle that held the U.S Air Force partially responsible for not entering shooter Devin Kelley's criminal history into a database which could have prevented his weapon purchase.
Though not yet finalized, this settlement must be approved by both a federal judge and top DOJ official before moving forward. The anticipated notice is expected to be filed on Wednesday before the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
In previous court hearings, government attorneys argued against full responsibility stating that Kelley would likely have obtained weapons even if his information had been correctly reported to background check systems—a claim met with frustration from survivors who believed it minimized their experiences during this "inexpressible tragedy."
This case echoes similarities from October 2021 when DOJ agreed to pay $88 million as compensation for families affected by another church massacre—Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina where nine lives were claimed.
Survivors and gun safety advocates alike expressed concern over potential implications regarding such settlements; fearing they may negatively impact future gun safety legislation should they ultimately win these cases or receive large sums as reparations.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has received calls urging him to expedite finalizing this particular settlement so those affected can begin closure processes sooner rather than later following years-long legal battles surrounding one of America's deadliest shootings where twenty-six people lost their lives while another twenty-two sustained injuries due directly to errors made within military reporting structures like neglecting submission requirements around criminal histories thereby increasing public risk factors overall