HOUSTON, Texas – Testimony from the parents of victims in the civil trial against the parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the gunman accused of killing 10 people in the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, have wrapped up for the day.
KPRC 2 Investigative Reporter Robert Arnold was at the trial and sent in live updates. Here’s what happened:
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4:30 p.m. - Roberto Torres, Dimitrios’ attorney, questions William Recie Tisdale
Torres asked William if he would agree if parents are shepherds of their children.
William agreed.
Court adjourned for the day and trial will start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
4:24 p.m. - Jury seated and testimony resumes
Shari Goldsberry, defense attorney for Dimitrios’ parents cross-examines William Recie Tisdale.
Goldsberry asked if William agrees that it is not possible to know where your children are every second of the day, and he replied, “yes.” William says he holds Dimitrios chiefly responsible for the shooting.
When asked if there should be more training for substitute teachers on active shooters, William said he was not familiar with teacher training. He agreed that Lucky Gunner, the online store that sold ammo to Dimitrios that was used in the shooting, should be held responsible for selling him the ammunition because he was underage.
Williams told Goldsberry he wasn’t inside the school during the shooting to know if 30 minutes was a reasonable time to apprehend an active shooter.
4:07 p.m. - Court takes a quick recess before defense begins cross examination of William Recie Tisdale, son of Cynthia Tisdale, and retired League City Police Officer
3:08 p.m. - William Recie Tisdale, son of Cynthia Tisdale, and retired League City Police Officer
The next witness, William Recie Tisdale, is the son of Cynthia Tisdale, who was killed in the Santa Fe High School mass shooting. William, a retired League City police officer, responded to the shooting on his day off. He felt his subsequent transfer from burglary and theft to cold cases was a demotion, which was very hard on his family.
He described his mother as someone who helped with his dad’s pest control business, always gave good advice, was hardworking, had a good marriage, and was healthy. Cynthia was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. Just before the shooting, her husband was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and given five years to live but continued working.
Their granddaughter, a star softball player, chose to attend Nicholls State University because it was where her grandmother was born and raised. Cynthia was killed before she could see her granddaughter play in college. On the day of the shooting, Cynthia left a note for her husband, saying she had to meet a teacher and hoped he felt better. William described the chaos at the school when he arrived, with children running everywhere.
William later learned that his mom was dead, saying, “I just wish I could have been there to help her in her last seconds.”
He said he stayed on the scene for several hours and never got to see his mother that day.
3:00 p.m. - Defense counsel Lori Laird cross-examines Jimmy Fullen
Defense counsel Lori Laird questioned Jimmy Fullen about the timeline and details of the incident. Fullen did not know the time elapsed between getting Officer Barnes to safety and Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ surrender. He did not observe any injuries or cuts on Pagourtzis. Fullen was unsure how long he was at the scene, stating that “time stood still.”
Fullen’s testimony then concluded.
2:40 p.m. - Witness Jimmy Fullen is called to the stand
Jimmy Fullen, the next witness and former Galveston County Precinct 2 Constable, recounted his experience during the Santa Fe High School shooting. He was off-duty and visiting his father in the hospital when he heard about the shooting over the police radio.
Dressed casually, he rushed to the school, entered without tactical gear, and encountered Santa Fe ISD Police Chief Walter Braun. Fullen found Officer John Barnes bleeding profusely and managed to drag him to safety despite slipping in the blood.
After hearing about a potential second shooter, Fullen headed toward the cafeteria. He then followed the police car carrying Dimitrios Pagourtzis to the police station, where he stayed during Pagourtzis’ interview. Fullen described the interview as non-coercive and returned to the high school to assist further after changing into his uniform. He stated the shooting impacted him deeply in every aspect of his life.
2:35 p.m. - Rhonda Hart’s testimony ends
2:25 p.m. - Questioning Rhona Hart resumes
During cross-examination, defense counsel Lori Laird asked Rhonda Hart if she believed Luckygunner’s sale to Dimitrios Pagourtzis contributed to the shooting, to which Hart replied ‘yes’.
Hart also criticized the school’s enforcement of the dress code, stating it was stricter for girls and allowed Pagourtzis to wear a trench coat. She agreed that locked art room doors and active shooter training for substitute teachers could have helped.
Hart attended school board meetings initially but stopped, feeling her concerns were ignored. She concluded that Pagourtzis’ parents should have had more secure gun storage. Her testimony then concluded.
1:55 p.m. - The Attorney is discussing with the judge if Luckgunner can be discussed in open court since parents have already settled the lawsuit with Luckygunner.
The court was then placed on recess due to a legal matter. It’s not clear what the legal matter is.
1:52 p.m. - Defense counsel Lori Laird cross-examines Rhona Hart
Defense counsel Lori Laird cross-examined Rhonda Hart, questioning her work schedule, her statements about the accused gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ parents, and her views on Pagourtzis’ mental illness and gun security.
Laird asked if Hart believed Pagourtzis’ parents should have been arrested, to which Hart replied yes, but acknowledged she did not think a law was broken. Hart expressed skepticism about Pagourtzis’ mental illness, suggesting it was convenient he became incompetent after facing federal charges.
She criticized the lack of security for the guns used in the shooting, noting a gun cabinet with an unbroken glass front. Hart admitted she had no evidence that Pagourtzis’ parents knew he was unwell and assigned some responsibility to the ammunition supplier, Luckygunner.
1:45 p.m. - Court back in session
Attorneys speak with the judge before resuming Rhonda Hart’s testimony.
12:21 p.m. - Court on lunch break until 1:30 p.m.
11: 40 a.m - Rhonda Hart, Kimberly Vaughan’s mother is called to the witness stand
Rhonda Hart, the mother of Kimberly Vaughan, the youngest victim of the Santa Fe High School shooting, testified in court. Hart described her daughter’s life, including her involvement in Girl Scouts, her love for reading, and her fondness for Harry Potter.
On the day of the shooting, Hart was driving a bus for Santa Fe ISD when she received the tragic news. After searching for her daughter, she learned from a classmate that Kimberly was likely dead. Later, at a reunification point, she was informed of Kimberly’s death by a police chaplain.
Hart recounted the devastating impact on her and her son, detailing her ongoing struggle with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. She has since become active in legislative efforts and got a tattoo in memory of Kimberly.
11:33 a.m. - Shannan Claussen’s testimony concludes
11:27 a.m. - Roberto Torres, the defense attorney for Dimitrios Pagourtzis, is now questioning Shannan Claussen
Roberto Torres: The family connection is so important for children.
Shannan Claussen: Yes, sir. Children need to be your priority. You have to be involved in every area of your life. Everything that interests them, everything that bothers them.
11:21 a.m. - Testimony resumes. Defense for Dimitrios Pagourtzis’s parents, Shari Goldsberry now questioning Shannan Claussen
Shari Goldsberry: I believe the school failed in certain ways, but the school is only the steward of the children while they are there.
Shari Goldsberry: Do you believe Luckygunner has some responsibility?
Shannan Claussen: Yes. I believe the parents are responsible for not catching problems, it’s a parent’s responsibility to supervise their children.
Shari Goldsberry: Have you heard anything about Asked if SC heard anything about delayed police response may be contributing to deaths? Do you believe that was a factor?
Shannan Claussen: No, I don’t.
10:57 a.m - Court takes 15 minutes recess
10:31 a.m. - The mother of Riley Garcia, Shannan Claussen, is now testifying
Shannan Claussen: Riley was full of energy, loved anything with wheels, and played basketball, hunting, and fishing. We had a great relationship. Had family dinners every night to discuss our day. He was a wonderful big brother.
Shannan Claussen: Riley was very involved in helping us build our new house in Santa Fe. Riley was involved in church. Riley wanted to be an Army Ranger when he grew up. Every birthday party was Army-themed. That never changed. Riley planned to enlist. Riley was 15 and a freshman in May 2018. The last thing he said was, ‘I love you,’ I told him, ‘I love you, have a blessed day.’ I took my daughter to school and forgot my phone. Had an uneasy feeling. As I was heading home I saw SWAT pass by. I got home and was told my phone was going off. I was told there was a shooting at the high school. Turned on the news and he had just surrendered at that point. I head to the point where buses are dropping kids off, I give them Riley’s name. A lady said he’s here, I remember that name. I kept looking and didn’t see him. I asked everyone, I found out the shooting was in his classroom. It was chaos, people were running everywhere. I asked his coach and math teacher, they hadn’t seen him yet. I spent all day trying to get to Riley. It was about 8, when I found out something happened. I waited all day. It was getting harder throughout the day when you see everyone connecting with their loved ones and then you realize there’s not many of us left. We spent all day being separated, there was Santa Fe, DPS, FBI and no one would tell us anything. I kept being asked what he was wearing, one DPS trooper then asked if he was wearing blue braces and if he was wearing a hoodie with camo. I said yes, then they took us into a room and told us he was deceased.
Riley was in art room 2 with Sabika and Ann Perkins.
Shannan Claussen: Riley helped move kids into a storage closet to avoid gunfire and held the door. He then tried to get other students out of the room, but when he stopped to help, another person up he was shot in the back. I want the shooter held accountable, he made the decision, planned, it, and knew right from wrong. I believe the parents have a responsibility because they didn’t store guns properly, didn’t know what was happening under their own roof and did not get their son help. I believe Santa Fe ISD is also responsible for not enforcing the dress code (allowing him to wear a trench coat). Losing Riley, it’s an agony you have to live with. I hate Mother’s Day. Some days you are numb, other days are worse because of the memories of all the little things you did every day. When you look around you see things that remind you your life will never be the same again. Riley’s sister struggles, when she was little she would ask if she would die when she got to high school. Very skittish, she has night terrors and talks about the things she and Riley will never get to do. Riley was very loving, sometimes he would look at you from across the room and just say, ‘I love you.’
10:24 a.m. Trenton Beazely’s testimony concludes
10:12 a.m. - Dimitrios Pagourtzis’s defense attorney, Robert Torres, finishes questions
Plaintiff’s attorney Blake Apffell: Did something happen between your 15 and 17th birthday?
Trenton Beazely: Who I am as a person has changed. PTSD and stress has changed me as a person.
Blake Apffell: What caused that change?
Trenton Beazely: The shooting.
Blake Apffell: Why do you feel Dimitrios Pagourtzis’s parents have some responsibility?
Trenton Beazely: Because of what I’ve heard, gun storage, other signs he was in trouble. I had to leave college because I couldn’t handle being in a large classroom and was having seizures.
Laird: Do you hold Luckygunner at fault?
Trenton Beazely: Yes and no.
Laird: They sold ammo to an underage person.
Trenton Beazely: He lied about his age.
Laird: So if he lies to Luckygunner they’re not at fault, but if he lies to his parents, they are still responsible?
Trenton Beazely: It’s called parenting.
10:00 a.m. - Dimitrios Pagourtzis’s defense attorney, Robert Torres, finishes questioning Trenton Beazely
Robert Torres: You did remember someone wearing a trench coat, duster on campus, even though at the time you didn’t know Dimitrios Pagourtzis?
Trenton Beazely: Yes.
Robert Torres: Did Dimitrios Pagourtzis have any kind of reputation at school prior to shooting?
Trenton Beazely: I wouldn’t know, we weren’t in the same friend groups.
9:45 a.m. - Defense attorney Lori Laird cross-examines Trenton Beazely
Laird: What kind of prep did you do before testifying?
Trenton Beazely: Just going over personal notes.
Laird: Has previous testimony influenced you?
Trenton Beazely: No.
Laird: Did you know DP prior to that day?
Trenton Beazely: No, couldn’t point him out in a room at that time.
Laird: Do you remember seeing someone walking around campus with a trench coat?
Trenton Beazely: Yes, a few times.
Laird: Which door was locked in the art room?
Trenton Beazely: The back patio door in art room 2.
Laird: If that was open could you have escaped?
Trenton Beazely: Yes.
Laird: How did some kids escape?
Trenton Beazely: The back patio door to art room 1 was open. We took gunfire pretty quickly and became trapped in the kiln room.
Laird: How long from time gunfire started to police coming in?
Trenton Beazely: Less than 30 minutes. From the time of first shots to arrest.
Laird: What blame do you put on DP?
Trenton Beazely: The death of 10 and injury of 13.
Laird: Do you think all the blame on him?
Trenton Beazely: The parents share some responsibility because of gun storage and negligent parenting.
Laird: What did my clients do that was negligent?
Trenton Beazely: From what we’re hearing here, there was no follow-up with their son when he was having problems, if that was my parents they would definitely be asking what’s going on with me.
9:42 a.m. - Plaintiff’s attorney, Clint McGuire, begins questioning Trenton Beazely
McGuire: When you saw Kyle, where was he shot?
Trenton Beazely: When I saw him, he said he was shot in the arm.
McGuire: For either of the people you saw with gunshot wounds, did they die immediately?
Trenton Beazely: For Kyle, I’m not sure, for Chris (Stone),I did see him take his last breath.