HOUSTON, Texas – The civil trial against the parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who is accused of the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, has entered its 12th day.
So far, we’ve heard testimonies from several families of the 10 people who were killed, including those who were injured, when Pagourtzis allegedly entered Santa Fe High School in 2018 and began opening fire.
The parents and loved ones of the 10 killed are now calling for Pagourtzis’ parents to be held responsible for the shooting, as well.
KPRC 2 has covered the trial since day 1, bringing you extensive details from the courtroom.
4:20 p.m. - Judge adjourns court for the day
The jury is informed that the trial will likely continue into next week. Jurors are asked to present any problems they may have with a longer trial to the judge. The jurors were originally told the trial would only last three weeks.
3:48 p.m. - Court back in session
Dr. Self concludes testimony.
3:30 p.m. - Court in recess
2:18 p.m. - Dr. Mary Chandler Self is called to the stand
Dr. Self is testifying about the signs and symptoms of depression and schizoaffective disorder. She explained that schizophrenia develops gradually, often triggered by stress, and is typically diagnosed after a crisis. Early symptoms include increased introversion and attempts to manage psychotic thoughts. Schizophrenia can initially be somewhat controlled, but over time, the individual loses the ability to do so without treatment. Diagnosing the disorder is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Dr. Self said she reviewed Dimitrios’ case and said his planning the school shooting and educating himself about guns, is inconsistent with major depressive disorder, where individuals typically lack motivation and can’t even shower.
She also clarified that schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder cannot be diagnosed until a psychotic episode occurs.
Dr. Self emphasized that symptoms of schizophrenia vary widely among individuals, making it difficult to pinpoint a single hallmark symptom. While there is a correlation between mental illness and violence, predicting violent behavior in individuals with these disorders is not straightforward. She also noted that even with treatment, there is no guarantee that a person with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder will not commit a crime, although the likelihood of future violence is lower if there is no history of violence.
2:09 p.m. - Plaintiff’s attorney Alton Todd begins questioning Katina Garcia
Todd asked Garcia questions regarding Dimitrios being irresponsible and not completing his chores like taking out the trash and mowing the yard, Garcia said although she had heard about the complaints, she didn’t think of it as out of the ordinary.
1:48 p.m. - Judge resumes court. Katina Garcia resumes testimony
The plaintiff’s attorney Clint McGuire is now questioning Garcia.
McGuire asked Katina about her conversation with Dr. Peterson in 2019, asking if her brother Dimitrios was secretive about his bedroom, computer or car, which Garcia said she did not recall the conversation she had with Peterson about those matters. When asked about her father being violent or volatile, she answered, “Not violent. Volatile, there were good times and bad.”
12:26 p.m. - Court on lunch break
11:30 a.m. - Dr. Fuller’s testimony concludes. Dimitrios’ half-sister Katina Garcia is called to the stand
Garcia is 14 years older than Dimitrios, she is the daughter of Antonios.
Laird begins questioning Garcia about Dimitrios as a child, she describes him as being very playful, loving and always laughing. She said she did notice Dimitrios becoming more shy and to himself when he got older, but didn’t think much of it.
When Laird asked if she was afraid to have her children around Dimitrios, she said “I think about that every day, no, I was never worried. I don’t know if I should regret that or tell you who he was. I didn’t know he had these thoughts, I didn’t know he would do something like this.”
Laird switched the topic to Antonios, Garcia and Dimitrios’ father. Garcia described the relationship between Antonios and his son as loving but said her dad had high expectations for DP.
When asked about her father’s gun collection, which included 17 weapons, Garcia said the family would go hunting when she was younger and often hunted with other Greek families at deer leases.
11:25 a.m. - Jury brought back into the courtroom. Dr. Fuller continues testimony
Dr. Fuller testified to seeing Dimitrios in the suicide prevention area of the Galveston County Jail while evaluating another inmate. Fuller said Dimitrios seemed to be vacant, withdrawn and possibly depressed or psychotic. Although he could not make a formal diagnosis, Fuller said he called the jail doctor and asked him to “see Dimitrios and evaluate him for a possible undiagnosed mental illness.” Garcia added that her dad would become enraged over small, trivial events.
11 a.m. - Court back in session
Both sides want to conduct voir dire on Dr. Fuller since attorney Laird is now saying he is a fact witness since he had interactions with Dimitrios.
Fuller allegedly observed Dimitrios at the jail in the months after the shooting. The doctor allegedly saw Dimitrios two or three times at the jail while working on other cases. Dr. Fuller said he placed a call to the jail psychiatrist to say he thought Dimitrios needed treatment.
Fuller said although he never spoke to Dimitrios, he observed him while he was in the suicide prevention area, which led him to his evaluation. Fuller explained Dimitrios’ behavior as passive, withdrawn and unaware of his surroundings.
Dr. Fuller admitted to only observing Dimitrios for about four minutes as he walked to a hearing, and did not have any type of real interaction with Dimitrios or made a formal diagnosis of Dimitrios.
Because of this, the plaintiff’s attorney Clint McGuire is asking the judge to exclude Dr. Fuller from testifying about his observation about Dimitrios, claiming it’s not relevant.
The judge is allowing Dr. Fuller to testify about his observation of Dimitrios but nothing else.
10:40 a.m. - Court is in recess
10:31 a.m. - Judge calls for a short recess to address legal issues
The plaintiff’s attorney is objecting to Dr. Fuller’s testimony.
The judge sustains the objection of Dr. Fuller’s testimony, meaning the doctor cannot testify on the statements Kosmetatos made about her son during the treatment since it came after the shooting. Fuller didn’t treat Dimitrios nor review any of his records.
The judge also says Kosmetatos’ treatment after the shooting is not relevant to legal matters before the court. The judge is giving Laird more time to talk with Fuller to see if she can discuss any other issues on the stand.
10:21 a.m. - Rose Maria Kosmetatos’ testimony ends. Dr. Michael Fuller, a psychiatrist, takes the stand.
Defense attorney Lori Laird begins questioning Dr. Fuller, whose background includes forensic examinations for competency. Dr. Fuller was treating Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ mother, Rose Maria Kosmetatos after the shooting. Kosmetatos has since been diagnosed with PTSD and severe depression.
9:35 a.m. - Court resumes. Rose Maria Kosmetatos, Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ continues her testimony
Defense attorney Lori Laird questioned Kosmetatos about her son’s mental health before the shooting, asking her several of the questions that she already answered about Dimitrios cutting himself and being angry. Kosmetatos denied the allegations, saying she never knew about her son carving a cross on his hand, and that most of the statements he gave authorities after the shooting were false.
“My son is clearly delusion in his writings,” Kosmetatos said. “Dimitrios was desperately ill and there’s no way to know what was real and what wasn’t in his journal writings.”
Stay updated on Santa Fe Trial:
Parents of accused Santa Fe HS gunman want school district added to civil lawsuit
Santa Fe trial: Accused gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ younger sister testifies
Santa Fe HS shooting trial day 8: Survivor Chase Yarbrough testifies, says life ‘completely changed’