The lawsuit filed by the parents of Josselin Corea Escalante Vega was released publicly on Monday, revealing they seek $700,000 from Metro Nashville and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) after their daughter was killed during the January attack on Antioch High School (AHS).
Filed in the Tennessee Circuit Court for Davidson County by parents Josseline Escalante Vega and German Corea, the lawsuit accuses MNPS and Metro Nashville of negligently failing to protect their daughter from Solomon Henderson, who fired about 17 shots inside the school, including the bullet that fatally struck Josselin Escalante Vega on January 22, by specifically failing to ensure a safe environment for the students.
The lawsuit describes Henderson as a “walking red flag” whose time at the school included “a history of violent actions,” and noted that the AHS firearm detection system, as well as school staff members and administrators, failed to observe the weapon prior to his attack.
While at AHS, it alleges Henderson “pulled out a box cutter and threatened a female student in a school hallway in the presence of numerous teachers,” and that Henderson made threats to others on the campus, including teachers who, “reportedly voiced their concerns” to deaf ears.
Though these incidents were previously reported, the lawsuit also claims Henderson was involved in more incidents, “including a fight that occurred before the box cutting threat and incident.”
The lawsuit states that MNPS and Metro are liable for the death of Josselin Escalante Vega under the Tennessee law, which mandated their daughter’s enrollment. The law also establishes that schools serve as “in loco parentis,” which requires them to maintain a safe environment for students.
Josseline Escalante Vega and German Corea seek $300,000 in damages for the death of their daughter, $400,000 for emotional damages suffered by the parents, and to be awarded court and discretionary costs associated with the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed even as the mother’s asylum application reportedly remains ongoing, as The New York Times reported in January, having been under consideration since 2017. The outlet reported that German Corea was not part of the asylum case, leaving him “at more risk of being deported” to Guatemala, where the family originated prior to its immigration to the United States.
While Henderson took his life at the conclusion of the attack, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently extradited a Moldovan national and alleged cult leader who allegedly authored a manifesto that provided inspiration to Henderson. Prosecutors allege the Moldovan man led “an international racially-motivated violent extremist group,” and was “explicitly mentioned” in Henderson’s writings.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Josselin Corea Escalante Vega” by GoFundMe.
