School-Shooting Survivor Sues The Kinkel Estate

EUGENE - A second survivor of last year's Springfield school shooting has filed a lawsuit against the estate of Bill and Faith Kinkel, the slain parents of the teen-ager who allegedly opened fire in a crowded high school cafeteria.

Richard D. Peek Jr., 18, was shot through his left forearm during the May 21, 1998, shooting spree, which left two students dead and two dozen others injured.

A freshman at the school, Kip Kinkel, is charged with murdering his parents before driving their vehicle to the school and opening fire with a semiautomatic rifle. Kinkel, now 16, is scheduled to go to trial in September. Peek's lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Lane County Court, seeks more than $230,000 for physical and mental injuries. He alleges that Kinkel's parents were negligent because they bought their son a gun even though they knew he was disturbed.

It was the third claim filed against the Kinkel estate, controlled by Kip's older sister, Kristin. Seventeen-year-old Teresa Miltonberger, who survived despite being shot in the forehead, filed a $230,000 lawsuit. A third claim was filed by her parents. Kristin Kinkel has denied all three claims, according to court records.

The Miltonbergers and Peek can now ask a judge to review the denial, seek a jury trial on their claims, or file a lawsuit.