Anthony Borges is considered one of the heroes of the Parkland shooting. The 15-year-old was shot twice in the torso and three times in the legs while trying to lock a door and protect other students. He then helped save his own life, using the knowledge he learned as a Boy Scout to create a tourniquet to slow his own bleeding. Yesterday, an attorney hired by the Borges family announced it would file a lawsuit against the school system and Broward County Sheriff’s Office. From USA Today:

“The failure of Broward County Public Schools, and of the principal and school resource officer to adequately protect students, and in particular our client, from life-threatening harm were unreasonable, callous and negligent,” attorney Alex Arreaza says in the letter. “Such action or inaction led to the personal injuries sustained by my client.”

The notice of “intent to file claim” was sent to the county, Sheriff Scott Israel, Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie and the state financial risk management division…

Anthony has undergone several surgeries but remains unable to walk and perform “rudimentary” tasks, Arreaza says. The damages to be sought in the suit will be determined later, the letter says.

The family has a GoFundMe page which has raised more than $600,000 dollars, but the family’s attorney says the cost of his recovery will be over a million dollars. Sheriff Scott Israel visited Borges in the hospital and posted a photo of the meeting on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/browardsheriff/status/965354476608606209

Borges is a soccer player who trained at an academy in Florida connected with FC Barcelona. Team members heard he was a fan and invited him to attend a game in Barcelona. They also sent him a shirt autographed by the team. According to his father, Anthony learned about the offer to travel to Barcelona just before going in to surgery and it helped lift his spirits.

Meanwhile, the Sun-Sentinel reports that a second Parkland shooting victim also announced plans to file a lawsuit this week:

The law firm representing 15-year-old Kyle Laman on Monday sent a letter of its intent to file a claim against several defendants, including the Broward County School Board…

“Kyle is still dealing with memories of the terror he felt when his classroom was locked and he was stuck in the hallway during the shooting,” the law firm representing him wrote. “The teacher couldn’t get the door open fast enough. Everyone was running scared. Kyle looked at the gunman staring right back at him, and instinctively jumped for cover.

“The bullets were flying, and doctors told his mom one tore though his ankle and foot.”

Kyle was rescued by an off-duty Coral Springs police officer who happened to be at the school watering the sports field that day. The officer helped him to safety and then provided first aid and called police, but he was not in uniform and did not have a protective vest or a gun with him.

It appears both lawsuits make reference to Deputy Scot Peterson the school resource officer who was armed and in uniform that day but apparently stood outside behind a concrete barrier during the shooting.