News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Texas Judge Allows Sutherland Springs Church Shooting Victims To Sue Gun Retailer

Memorials and messages hung on a fence at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Oct. 31, 2018. A gunman opened fire on worshippers Nov. 5, 2017.
Associated Press
Memorials and messages hung on a fence at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Oct. 31, 2018. A gunman opened fire on worshippers Nov. 5, 2017.

A judge has ruled that victims of a mass shooting at a church southeast of San Antonio move forward with a lawsuit against the Academy sporting goods chain where the gunman bought the weapon and ammunition used in the massacre.

The decision Monday by state District Judge Karen Pozza in San Antonio clears the way for families of the 2017 Sutherland Springs shootingto potentially bring their case against Academy Sports & Outdoors before a jury.

The retailer is where gunman Devin Kelley bought an assault-style rifle used in the church shooting that killed more than two dozen people.

Some families have also separately sued the U.S. Air Force over failing to report Kelley's past crimesto a federal database. Kelley wan an Air Force veteran who was discharged in 2014 for bad conduct.