An open book, a gavel and pen are on top of a piece of paper that says Lawsuit.

Family of New Mexico School Shooting Victim Sues FBI

The mother of one of the victims in the 2017 Aztec High School shooting filed a second wrongful death lawsuit.  

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • June 18, 2020

The mother of a New Mexico school shooting victim has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming the FBI was negligent in the death of her daughter.

Jamie Lattin filed the complaint in New Mexico federal court on June 8, the Farmington Daily Times reports. The complaint alleges that Lattin’s daughter, Casey Jordan Marquez, died of negligent acts and omissions by FBI employees. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for loss of life, pain and suffering.

Marquez and her classmate Francisco “Paco” Fernandez were shot and killed at Aztec High School by a former student on Dec. 7, 2017. 

The 21-year-old gunman, William Atchison, attacked Fernandez in a bathroom and encountered Marquez in the hallway. The 17-year-olds suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Atchison died by suicide at the school.   

The lawsuit points to a March 2016 FBI investigation after the agency received an online threat made by Atchison against Aztec High School. According to the lawsuit, the FBI received information that Atchison posted on an online gaming website he was looking for advice on how to acquire a cheap assault rifle for a mass shooting at his former school. The FBI traced the post to a computer server that belonged to his brother, which led to interviews with the family.

"At the time of the interviews, William Atchison had a significant online profile as someone who was obsessed with school shootings and glorified school shooters on alt-right websites," according to the complaint.

The FBI agents who interviewed the gunman in March 2016 concluded he was just posting the comments “in jest” and “enjoyed acting as an internet troll but had no plans to secure a gun.”

The FBI did not share the information with the high school or did not investigate Atchison’s school file, according the complaint.

They would’ve found the gunman was suspended on March 9, 2012 for writing the schedule of the Columbine school shooting on a whiteboard. He did not return to school and ultimately disenrolled from school later that year.

This is the second wrongful death lawsuit Lattin has filed. The first was in December accusing Aztec schools and police of negligence in her daughter’s death.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. She can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Campus Parking Problems: Modern Security Solutions

    Parking: for many, it’s an everyday fact of life. Whenever we drive somewhere, we must consider parking, and often, that parking experience sets our mood and expectations for the rest of the journey. Whether a quick grocery store pickup or long-term airport parking, the parking lot is an integral part of whatever type of campus you’re visiting. This includes destinations like retail stores, your local high school, hospitals, and the park-and-ride systems present in major cities. Read Now

  • The Critical Need for Naloxone on School Campuses

    The opioid crisis is escalating across the United States, increasingly affecting all segments of the population, including students on K-12 and college campuses. As the threat from opioids, especially fentanyl, becomes more widespread, it's critical for schools to have naloxone available—an antidote for opioid overdoses. This article discusses why naloxone should be as common as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in educational settings. Read Now

  • Best Practices for A Holistic Approach to Video Solutions in Campus Security

    Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems. Read Now

  • Back to School Planning is a Year-Round Commitment

    With summer underway, K-12 and college students, faculty, and staff are taking a well-earned break to recharge and gear up for the fall. It’s also the season when security professionals can get in and get busy installing upgrades and retrofits before the new school year starts. It’s a brief window, but, thanks to diligent planning throughout the year, the pros are always ready to hit the ground running at the last bell of spring term to make the most out of the limited time available. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars

Whitepapers