The lawsuit claims that the companies collaborated in promoting the weapon to underage boys through gaming platforms and social media.
The shooting took place two years ago, and on Friday, a lawsuit was filed to mark this anniversary.
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According to attorney Josh Koskoff, Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old shooter responsible for the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers, as well as injuring 17 others, had purchased the DDM4V7 rifle just one week prior to the shooting. Koskoff further alleged that Ramos had been playing a version of the game and had made several Instagram posts about weapons in the months leading up to the incident.
ABC News reached out to Daniel Defense, Activision, and Meta for comments on the lawsuit, but they did not provide an immediate response.
In a statement to the New York Times, Activision expressed their deepest sympathies to the families in Uvalde. They also emphasized that millions of people around the world enjoy video games without resorting to horrific acts.
The lawsuit argues that the “Call of Duty” franchise portrays gun violence in a realistic manner, with authentic weapons being used.
The lawsuit argues that these weapons are specifically crafted to closely replicate the appearance, sensation, kickback, and precision of their real-life counterparts.
According to the attorneys, Instagram is actively supporting the spread of content that promotes assault weapons and glorifies lone gunmen. They believe that the platform allows teenagers to be exposed to material that exploits themes of sex and hypermasculinity, ultimately influencing them to purchase these weapons. The attorneys emphasize that Instagram plays a significant role in directing users to where they can purchase the same weapons used in popular video games like Call of Duty.
The lawsuit claims that a firearms marketing agency has pointed out the existence of significant loopholes in the advertising regulations for Facebook and Instagram. The alleged result is that organic posts promoting firearms are able to make their way onto these platforms.
The lawsuit claimed that the shooter, who was ultimately killed by law enforcement during the shooting, had been actively pursued through aggressive and explicit marketing on Instagram.
According to the lawsuit, he had downloaded the game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” in November 2021. The suit also mentioned that he had been playing a mobile version of the game since he was 15 years old.
According to the lawsuit, the shooter allegedly engaged in activities such as researching firearms on his phone and browsing Daniel Defense’s website after purchasing the game.
According to the lawsuit, the shooter is said to have made an account on Daniel Defense’s website and added the DDM4 V7 to his cart.
According to the lawsuit, the individual who fired the gun was filled with excitement and couldn’t contain their curiosity. They constantly searched online to find out how many days were left until their birthday on May 16th.
Friday’s lawsuit represents the most recent legal action taken in response to the shooting, with both criminal and civil court cases having been filed previously.
This week, the city of Uvalde reached a settlement with 19 families, agreeing to pay a total of $2 million from its insurance coverage.
As part of the settlement, the families expressed their involvement in the efforts to enhance the Uvalde Police Department. Additionally, the settlement includes requirements for the city to support the community in its healing process. This includes the creation of a committee responsible for designing a permanent memorial, with funding provided by the city.
The families’ attorney stated that they also intend to file a lawsuit against the federal government, highlighting the significant presence of over 150 federal officers at the school.
Emily Shapiro from ABC News also contributed to this report.
