WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday let stand a lower-court ruling that allows a suit to proceed against the makers of guns used in a California shooting spree.
Buford Furrow was carrying a 9mm handgun, a 9mm short-barreled rifle, an automatic 7.62-caliber rifle, a .223-caliber rifle, two .308-caliber rifles and a .22-caliber handgun on Aug. 10, 1999.
He entered the Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills, Calif., and shot three young children, a teenager and an adult. After fleeing the scene, he shot and killed U.S. postal carrier Joseph Ileto, of Filipino descent, in Chatsworth, Calif.
Furrow would be sentenced to life in prison.
Ileto's mother and the three children sued the manufactures and distributors of the guns Furrow carried, including Glock Inc.
A federal judge dismissed the suit. But a federal appeals court, saying the plaintiffs had a claim under state law, reinstated it.
The companies then unsuccessfully asked the Supreme Court for review.
