Library shooting survivors file civil lawsuit

CLOVIS — Nearly two years after the fatal shooting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library, two of its survivors have filed a civil lawsuit against the family of convicted shooter Nathaniel Jouett and the psychologist who was treating him prior.

The lawsuit filed in the Ninth Judicial District seeks “fair and reasonable damages” as decided by a jury, along with compensation for extensive medical treatment for siblings Alexis and Noah Molina, who were both injured in the Aug. 28, 2017, shooting.

Defendants include father Christopher Jouett, grandfather William Jouett and Eric Banagay of the Clovis Counseling Center.

Attempts to reach the defendants were not immediately succesful on Tuesday.

Nathaniel Jouett pleaded guilty to 30 felony charges in February for the shooting, which left four injured and claimed the lives of librarians Kristina Carter and Wanda Walters. He was issued two concurrent life sentences — defined in New Mexico as 30 years before the possibility of parole — followed by another 40 years in prison.

According to court documents, Noah Molina was shot once and Alexis Molina was shot four times while shielding her brother from Jouett.

Alexis Molina and Denise Madrid, suing on behalf of son Noah Molina, have retained the Sawicki Law Firm of Dallas.

The lawsuit alleges:

• The younger Jouett obtained the guns and the ammunition for the shooting from an unlocked safe at the family home, and that one of the weapons in question was given to the family by William Jouett.

• Christopher Jouett knew his son had a history of mental problems, including violent outbursts and suicide threats in the months leading up to the shooting, but still had access to the family’s gun collection.

• Banagay knew Nathaniel Jouett was “suicidal, violent towards others, had access to weapons and drugs, and had reported hearing auditory hallucinations in the days and weeks before the shootings,” and failed to act on the information to protect the Molinas and the general public.

“Mass shootings have unfortunately become too common in this country,” Molina attorney Michael Sawicki said. “Gun owners and mental health professionals need to take reasonable steps to keep people with mental illness away from weapons. If they don’t, these types of tragedies will not stop.”