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Ox safari is the most luxurious african safari experience in america located on, 18,000 acres of texas hill country.

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Blood and Beauty on a Texas Exotic-Game Ranch

By Manny Fernandez

• Oct. 19, 2017

UVALDE, Tex. — On a ranch at the southwestern edge of the Texas Hill Country, a hunting guide spotted her cooling off in the shade: an African reticulated giraffe. Such is the curious state of modern Texas ranching, that a giraffe among the oak and the mesquite is an everyday sort of thing.

“That’s Buttercup,” said the guide, Buck Watson, 54.

In a place of rare creatures, Buttercup is among the rarest; she is off limits to hunters at the Ox Ranch . Not so the African bongo antelope, one of the world’s heaviest and most striking spiral-horned antelopes, which roams the same countryside as Buttercup. The price to kill a bongo at the Ox Ranch is $35,000.

Himalayan tahrs, wild goats with a bushy lion-style mane, are far cheaper. The trophy fee, or kill fee, to shoot one is $7,500. An Arabian oryx is $9,500; a sitatunga antelope, $12,000; and a black wildebeest, $15,000.

“We don’t hunt giraffes,” Mr. Watson said. “Buttercup will live out her days here, letting people take pictures of her. She can walk around and graze off the trees as if she was in Africa.”

The Ox Ranch near Uvalde, Tex., is not quite a zoo, and not quite an animal shooting range, but something in between.

The ranch’s hunting guides and managers walk a thin, controversial line between caring for thousands of rare, threatened and endangered animals and helping to execute them. Some see the ranch as a place for sport and conservation. Some see it as a place for slaughter and hypocrisy.

The Ox Ranch provides a glimpse into the future of the mythic Texas range — equal parts exotic game-hunting retreat, upscale outdoor adventure, and breeding and killing ground for exotic species.

Ranchers in the nation’s top cattle-raising state have been transforming pasture land into something out of an African safari, largely to lure trophy hunters who pay top-dollar kill fees to hunt exotics. Zebra mares forage here near African impala antelopes, and it is easy to forget that downtown San Antonio is only two hours to the east.

The ranch has about 30 bongo, the African antelopes with a trophy fee of $35,000. Last fall, a hunter shot one. “Taking one paid their feed bill for the entire year, for the rest of them,” said Jason Molitor, the chief executive of the Ox Ranch.

To many animal-protection groups, such management of rare and endangered species — breeding some, preventing some from being hunted, while allowing the killing of others — is not only repulsive, but puts hunting ranches in a legal and ethical gray area.

“Depending on what facility it is, there’s concern when animals are raised solely for profit purposes,” said Anna Frostic, a senior attorney with the Humane Society of the United States.

Hunting advocates disagree and say the breeding and hunting of exotic animals helps ensure species’ survival. Exotic-game ranches see themselves not as an enemy of wildlife conservation but as an ally, arguing that they contribute a percentage of their profits to conservation efforts.

“We love the animals, and that’s why we hunt them,” Mr. Molitor said. “Most hunters in general are more in line with conservation than the public believes that they are.”

Beyond the financial contributions, hunting ranches and their supporters say the blending of commerce and conservation helps save species from extinction.

Wildlife experts said there are more blackbuck antelope in Texas than there are in their native India because of the hunting ranches. In addition, Texas ranchers have in the past sent exotic animals, including scimitar-horned oryx, back to their home countries to build up wild populations there.

“Ranchers can sell these hunts and enjoy the income, while doing good for the species,” said John M. Tomecek, a wildlife specialist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Animal-rights activists are outraged by these ranches. They call what goes on there “canned hunting” or “captive hunting.’’

“Hunting has absolutely nothing to do with conservation,” said Ashley Byrne, the associate director of campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “What they’re doing is trying to put a better spin on a business that they know the average person finds despicable.”

A 2007 report from Texas A&M University called the exotic wildlife industry in America a billion-dollar industry.

At the Ox Ranch, it shows. The ranch has luxury log cabins, a runway for private planes and a 6,000-square-foot lodge with stone fireplaces and vaulted ceilings. More animals roam its 18,000 acres than roam the Houston Zoo, on a tract of land bigger than the island of Manhattan. The ranch is named for its owner, Brent C. Oxley, 34, the founder of HostGator.com, a web hosting provider that was sold in 2012 for more than $200 million.

“The owner hopes in a few years that we can break even,” Mr. Molitor said.

Because the industry is largely unregulated, there is no official census of exotic animals in Texas. But ranchers and wildlife experts said that Texas has more exotics than any other state. A survey by the state Parks and Wildlife Department in 1994 put the exotic population at more than 195,000 animals from 87 species, but the industry has grown explosively since then; one estimate by John T. Baccus, a retired Texas State University biologist, puts the current total at roughly 1.3 million.

The Ox Ranch needs no local, state or federal permit for most of their exotic animals.

State hunting regulations do not apply to exotics, which can be hunted year-round. The Fish and Wildlife Service allows ranches to hunt and kill certain animals that are federally designated as threatened or endangered species, if the ranches take certain steps, including donating 10 percent of their hunting proceeds to conservation programs. The ranches are issued permits to conduct activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the Endangered Species Act if those activities enhance the survival of the species in the wild. Those federal permits make it legal to hunt Eld’s deer and other threatened or endangered species at the Ox Ranch.

Mr. Molitor said more government oversight was unnecessary and would drive ranchers out of the business. “I ask people, who do you think is going to manage it better, private organizations or the government?” Mr. Molitor said.

Lawyers for conservation and animal-protection groups say that allowing endangered animals to be hunted undermines the Endangered Species Act, and that the ranches’ financial contributions fail to benefit wildlife conservation.

“We ended up with this sort of pay-to-play idea,” said Tanya Sanerib, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “It is absolutely absurd that you can go to a canned-hunt facility and kill an endangered or threatened species.”

The creatures are not the only things at the ranch that are exotic. The tanks are, too.

The ranch offers its guests the opportunity to drive and shoot World War II-era tanks. People fire at bullet-ridden cars from atop an American M4 Sherman tank at a shooting range built to resemble a Nazi-occupied French town.

“We knew the gun people would come out,” said Todd DeGidio, the chief executive of DriveTanks.com, which runs the tank operation. “What surprised us was the demographic of people who’ve never shot guns before.”

Late one evening, two hunters, Joan Schaan and her 15-year-old son, Daniel, rushed to get ready for a nighttime hunt, adjusting the SWAT-style night-vision goggles on their heads.

Ms. Schaan is the executive director of a private foundation in Houston. Daniel is a sophomore at St. John’s School, a prestigious private school. They were there not for the exotics, but basically for the pests: feral hogs, which cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage annually in Texas.

“We are here because we both like to hunt, and we like hunting hogs,” Ms. Schaan said. “And we love the meat and the sausage from the hogs we harvest.”

Pursuing the hogs, Ms. Schaan and her son go off-roading through the brush in near-total darkness, with a hunting guide behind the wheel. Aided by their night-vision goggles, they passed by the giraffes before rattling up and down the hilly terrain.

Daniel fired at hogs from the passenger seat with a SIG Sauer 516 rifle, his spent shell casings flying into the back seat. Their guide, Larry Hromadka, told Daniel when he could and could not take a shot.

No one is allowed to hunt at the ranch without a guide. The guides make sure no one shoots an exotic animal accidentally with a stray bullet, and that no one takes aim at an off-limits creature.

One of the hogs Daniel shot twitched and appeared to still be alive, until Mr. Hromadka approached with his light and his gun.

Hundreds of animals shot at the ranch have ended up in the cluttered workrooms and showrooms at Graves Taxidermy in Uvalde.

Part of the allure of exotic game-hunting is the so-called trophy at the end — the mounted and lifelike head of the animal that the hunter put down. The Ox Ranch is Graves Taxidermy’s biggest customer.

“My main business, of course, is white-tailed deer, but the exotics have kind of taken over,” said Browder Graves, the owner.

He said the animal mounts he makes for people were not so much a trophy on a wall as a symbol of the hunter’s memories of the entire experience. He has a mount of a Himalayan tahr he shot in New Zealand that he said he cannot look at without thinking of the time he spent with his son hunting up in the mountains.

“It’s God’s creature,” he said. “I’m trying to make it look as good as it can.”

Small herds passed by the Jeep being driven by Mr. Watson, the hunting guide. There were white elk and eland, impala and Arabian oryx.

Then the tour came to an unexpected stop. An Asiatic water buffalo blocked the road, unimpressed by the Jeep. The animal was caked with dried mud, an aging male that lived away from the herd.

“The Africans call them dugaboys,” Mr. Watson said. “They’re old lone bulls. They’re so big that they don’t care.”

The buffalo took his time moving. For a moment, at least, he had all the power.

A photo caption with an earlier version of this article misidentified the animals walking across a dam at the Ox Ranch. They are water buffaloes, not zebus.

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Additional production by Meghan Petersen

Texas Safari Parks & Wildlife Parks

Texas is home to some great adventures, one of which are wildlife parks. Here’s our list of the best Texas Safari and Wildlife Parks, Preserves, and Tours. Visitors will be astonished by the original and innovative way of meeting, mingling, petting and seeing wildlife at any of the safari and wildlife park in Texas which offer an unsurpassed adventure in meeting wild animals and a one-of-a-kind, lasting, exciting memory in getting to know the wild. Visit one of the Texas Safari and Wildlife Parks and create you own exciting adventure. Incorporate a Texas Safari or Wildlife tour into your next family vacation.

North Texas Wildlife & Safari Parks

Fossil rim wildlife center (glen rose).

The 1700 acres lets you interact with deer, rhinos, giraffes and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Drive through the 9-1/2 mile tour. You will see long distance views of savannah-like pastures, forested areas and hillsides for the animals to roam. Fossil Rim is a great family experience. This park is a spring break favorite, but beware… in my experience, the lines can get really long during school breaks!

In-Sync Exotics (Wylie)

As a non-profit organization they are dedicated to the rescue of neglected, abused and unwanted exotic felines and to educate the public about these beautiful cats. The story of each cat is posted on their enclosure, and information about each species is placed near the enclosures so you can learn about the animals that call In-Sync Exotics their forever home.

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch (Pilot Point)

This is a premiere exotic animal facility where they breed rare and endangered animals and supply them to zoos around the world. They provide animals for Jack Hanna shows and just filmed a Dirty Jobs episode with Mike Rowe. You can even get lunch there and watch the bears play!

East Texas Wildlife & Safari Parks

Cherokee trace (jacksonville).

Nestled in the lush piney woods of East Texas, this drive-thru safari is a home to an amazing variety of wildlife. See over a dozen exotic and endangered species that thrive in an open habitat similar to their native territory. Enjoy a self-guided drive through the hills & savannahs of this 300-acre preserve.

East Texas Gators & Wildlife Park (Grand Saline)

The farm has gator eggs ready to hatch, baby gators and adult gators of all sizes. The alligators have stopped eating until spring…they are laying on the banks of the pond for you to get a good look! Their duck/geese/swan pond has a covered pavilion and is perfect for a relaxing picnic.

South Texas Wildlife & Safari Parks

Grapeland safari park (grapeland).

This is a family owned business on 59 acres where you will see kangaroos, cockatoos, tortoise, llamas, capybaras, and many more. You can drive through in your own vehicle or use their bus for larger groups. You are able to feed the animals with food that is provided for you.

Bayou Wildlife Park (Alvin)

Your tour on special trams takes you over the 80 acres of prairie and woods with the guide delivering an exciting and interesting talk while you feed the animals. There are 50 species of animals and birds totaling 500 in number.

Central Texas / Hill Country Safari & Wildlife Parks

Aggieland wild animal safari (bryan).

How would you like to go on a safari? Sounds fun. With your ticket you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with hundreds of animals throughout their 250 acres. Make sure you purchase a bucket of feed. The animals will love you for it. After your Drive-Thru Safari hop out of your car and visit with 150 mammals, birds and reptiles in the 20 acre zoo.

Topsey Exotic Ranch (Copperas Cove)

Located on 350 acres of free-range safari, allowing the guests to experience wildlife in a natural setting. Their mission is to provide the animals who call Topsey Exotic Ranch home with the highest standard of care and husbandry practices, while providing the guests with a fun and unique way to experience wildlife in an up-close and natural way.

Y.O. Ranch Headquarters (Mountain Home)

View and photograph animals from around the world either on a Bus Tour, Private Tour, or their Deluxe Tour which gives you more time on the ranch. Their guides are fun and informative with fascinating facts about the animals. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring your binoculars if you wish.

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (Between San Antonio& New Braunfels)

Wildlife Ranch offers the opportunity to view, photograph and feed animals. See species from all over the world from the comfort of your own vehicle. The oldest safari ranch in TX with 400 acres and 4 miles of exciting animals in the beautiful hill country. Read about our trip through  Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch .

Exotic Resort Zoo (Johnson City)

A small family owned wildlife preserve with over 500 animals and 80 different species. The preserve is home to several endangered species that now have a chance to increase their numbers. You can ride on a trailer through the 137 acres. Hundreds of exotic animals from antelope to zebras will come up to the trailer to be feed and petted. Read about our  fun experience at Exotic Resort Zoo .

If you want to get outside and experience some exotic animals, check out our map of Texas wildlife and safari parks .

Author: Simon Trask

Simon loves Texas and the Great Outdoors. From East Texas pines to West Texas mountains, he calls North Texas home but is always ready to float a river in Hill Country or go fishing on the Gulf Coast. Simon loves camping and road trips as well, whether it's cruising Highway 287, 82, 69 or 281, that's the true way to see what Texas is all about!

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Texas Safari is temporarily closed to house and event rentals.   We are in the process of updating our facilities and want to devote our time and efforts to the updates and our beloved animals.

We will reopen Summer 2025.  We are so grateful for your support and understanding during this time.  Please check our social media for updates!

Our Private Exotic Wildlife Park is the Perfect Venue for Your Wedding, Corporate Event, Family Gathering, or Romantic Weekend Getaway.

Texas Safari is a private park, open to guests to rent year-round. The facility is perfect for weddings, family reunions, corporate events, and parties of all kinds!  Come visit our picturesque Western Town and hundreds of exotic animals! We have 3 luxurious cabins on the property that can host up to 27 guests all together.

Click Here To Learn More About Lodging

Texas Safari is no longer open to the public as a drive-through game park.

A minimum two-night stay is required.  Our booking system will not accept single-night reservations and will show dates of less than two consecutive nights as "unavailable".

Texas Safari Featured on Texas Today

 Texas Safari is honored to have been featured on NBC today!  We hope y’all enjoy the wonderful video that Kristin Dickerson TV, Jessica Grose and their team at “Texas Today” put together of the highlights from their stay at the park.  Their video turned out great and they were such a pleasure to show around.

Watch the Video

Tour the Giraffe House!

Texas Safari was recently featured in D Magazine as a top 10 place in Texas to visit!

The Oldest Wildlife Park In Texas.

Texas Safari is full of history. It has been in operation since 1975, making it the oldest wildlife park in Texas. The original log cabin, in which the original settlers lived in and fought Comanche Indians out of, was built in 1850 and is still on the property. 2 barns built in 1870 are also located on the land. Today, the facility is run by 6th and 7th generation Texans.

The park sits on the historic Chisholm Trail, which was originally used by Indian hunting parties and later became one of the largest trails for Texas cattle drives.

Texas Safari is known for unforgettable parties, family reunions, and weddings, as well as corporate and private events. Whether it be the picturesque Western Town, or the wildlife roaming before your very eyes, your guests are sure to be amazed!

Kick off your boots and stay a while! Book your stay at one of our luxurious cabins. If you're lucky, you'll be woken by Marsha, our sweet and mischievous camel!

Read the Reviews About the Park

Interact With Over 600 Exotic Animals.

Texas Safari is home to over 600 exotics, from antelope to zebra. We have many Pere David deer from China that are extinct in the wild but exist on facilities like ours due to world-class breeding programs. The Dama Gazelle, Scimitar Oryx, Lechwe, and the Grevy's Zebra are on the endangered list.

As a breeding facility, we strive to expand the population of endangered animals. Our mission is to maintain the wellbeing of each and every animal in our care. All proceeds from our cabin rentals go towards feed and veterinary care.

You can drive around the park to freely interact with the animals. There are 10 miles of paved roads for your use. Please note that while our animals are friendly, they are still wild so treat them as such.

Learn More About the Animals

A World-Class Facility in the Heart of Texas.

Texas Safari is a world-class facility located in the Northern Texas Hill Country outside of the town of Clifton, just forty miles from Waco, ninety minutes from Dallas , and minutes from great restaurants, museums, art venues and golf.

For More Info:

Texas Safari

192 PRIVATE ROAD 4293 • CLIFTON TX 76634

Copyright © 2023 Texas Safari.  All rights reserved.

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Angel Pines Ranch

Property sold.

This property has been sold, but you can still view this properties details and related properties below.

Angel Pines Ranch - Waller County, Waller, TX

Angel Pines is heaven sent! These rolling 550 acres comprise one of the most beautiful large tracts left in Waller County. Blessed with miles of trails winding between towering pines planted in the 1960s, the pines sit along the clear running waters of Threemile Creek. Angel Pines can be for your family and also be an incredible investment. With almost a full mile of frontage along FM 359, and access from Betka Road to the east, Angel Pines is perfectly situated to benefit from the inevitable growth of Waller County. Situated in the Waller County School district,  and with the amazing infrastructure of roads and wells and power, Angel Pines is easily dividable into smaller tracts. Waller County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, there are no restrictions, just lots of opportunity. Twenty minutes from the Parkway and minutes from 290 or I-10.

Key Attributes

Located 4 miles south of Highway 290 on 359. Angel Pines is 21 minutes from the Grand Parkway.

From Houston, simply take 290 west and exit 359 and head south and the ranch is 4 miles on the left or take I-10 west and take 359 north at Brookshire for 19 miles and the Ranch is on the right.

Topography, Rangeland & Habitat

The land is sandy loam and straddles both sides of Threemile Creek. There is an amazing amount of roll to the property and heavily wooded areas. Wildlife seen on the property includes bobcats, deer, coyotes, hogs, quail, dove and duck. 

Improvements

Angel Pines features significant improvements.

• Two-story house with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, an office and 2 car garage
• Two-story metal building nicely finished with a full kitchen and family area, 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, a large garage/storage area
• 3 mobile homes
• full veterinary clinic, round pen and exercise track
• 4 barns with 36 stalls total and turn out sheds in each pasture
• 5 storage buildings for hay, equipment and large workshop areas
• 6 water wells
• 20 fenced horse pastures with water running to all paddocks

The live water, five ponds, three bridges and two low water crossings offer no end to the possibilities for wildlife, ranching, fishing, riding, hiking, cycling or four-wheeling enjoyment.

Listing broker associate has ownership interest in the property.

Waller County, Waller, TX

Property Sold Feb 1st, 2022 $11,000,000 (Asking Price)

This Charming Texas Town is the Honey Capital of the World

During the 1905 World’s Fair, Uvalde, in the Texas Hill Country, was honored as the Honey Capital of the World. According to an article by Susan L. Ebert in the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, “In the 1870s, pioneer settlers discovered hollow trees and caves brimming with bees and honey. Later, commercial beekeepers would ship honey all over the world from Uvalde, and the bees would play an important role in pollinating crops such as cantaloupe and cucumber.” Since that time, the town has been steadily cultivating this liquid gold, living up to its title in gallon upon gallon .

The type of blooms and flowering shrubs necessary to attract bees are found abundantly around Uvalde. Their nectar and pollen (the food source for bees) are the lifeline for honey production. Some people are hobby beekeepers, while others in the area have taken honey production to a business level. Each hive that’s maintained can produce four gallons of honey each year. It’s with good reason that Uvalde is known as the Honey Capital of the World.

Photo: Pixabay

In an article by Ann Harman , on Beeculture.com, she said, “In 2015 Texas ranked 5th in honey produced. Texas is well known for its citrus crops, especially the ruby red grapefruit. Oranges and other related citrus plants are also cultivated… In Texas the mesquite tree (also called honey mesquite) produces a rare but very popular and flavorful honey. This honey has been described as being light or light amber and even dark amber… The shrubby huajillo produces another famous Texas honey. It is light in color with a mild but rich flavor…beekeepers began to discover that good honey production was not only possible but that Texas honey varieties were excellent and marketable. Today it is sixth in honey production in the U.S.” She also said that huajillo honey won first prize at the 1900 World Fair, which was held in Paris, France. It’s the type of plant and subsequent nectar which can be found in abundance in and around Uvalde.

Photo: Instagram/spencenerds_mama

In celebration of the honor of being the Honey Capital of the World, Uvalde hosted its first annual honey festival on June 14 and 15 of 2019. It marked 114 years since the original title was given, and locals and visitors alike enjoyed food items cooked and infused with honey, a 5K, a poker run, vendors, late-night shopping, and a street dance, among other fun activities. The event was a resounding success and brought attention to beekeeping and honey cultivation where previously, not many celebratory platforms such as this existed. Bee and honey education were provided by the Texas Beekeepers Association, Texas A&M AgriLife, and Texas Master Naturalists. In preparation for a pending follow-up event, keep your eyes peeled to the official website at the link available here , as well as their Facebook page for upcoming social media updates and 2nd annual event details.

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Uvalde Police Chief promises "complete culture change" as part of overarching plan to revamp the department

E nhancing professional development, accountability and transparency are among the goals of the Uvalde Police Department’s ongoing Guardian Initiative. 

“There’s going to be a complete culture change here at the City of Uvalde Police Department,” said Homer Delgado, who was appointed in April to serve as Uvalde Police Chief. 

Homer Delgado has been working with regional, state and federal partners on implementing policy changes within the department. 

Changes in leadership emerged from the tragedy at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022, when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. Nearly 400 law enforcement officers responded to the shooting, taking over an hour to take down the shooter, which fueled public outrage and calls for accountability in light of law enforcement’s delayed response. 

Delgado has confidence in the  Guardian Initiative’s potential for transforming the department. He’s sought out public input on what could be changed within UPD, hearing from family members who lost loved ones at the Robb Elementary shooting. 

“We plan on rebuilding trust with the community, advancing education among the entire staff of the police department and providing a more professional police service to the Uvalde community,” Delgado said.

The Texas Police Chiefs Association and the ALERRT Center have been coordinating with UPD in developing a comprehensive plan that revamps the department’s Active Shooter Violent Response Strategies Policy.

Assistant Chief Mike Davis said it’s a first-of-its kind policy that could end up being replicated at law enforcement agencies nationwide one day. 

“We are the first agency to implement that policy in the nation,” Davis said. “We’ve conducted training with our partners, with all the mutual aid agencies. We’re just about complete with all of our active level 1 training. If you don’t train together, if you don’t even have any communication prior to and you’re thrown into a chaotic situation you’re going to see breakdown.”

The Guardian Initiative has also led to the creation of a mental health family violence investigator. Davis said the officer who was appointed the position has been training with the San Antonio Police Department’s units that specialize in family violence and behavioral health. 

“We feel that’s very important, especially if there is children in the home who are exposed to family violence,” Davis said. 

Full implementation of the multi-phase Guardian Initiative will take place over several months and into next year. 

Delgado stressed current and future officers will be held to an even higher standard from now on. 

The Guardian Initiative entails one-on-one interviews with every UPD officer. Right now, the department has approximately 40 sworn officers. 

 “We are going on a journey of development. We can’t drag people along," Delgado said. "And if officers aren’t up to that then they need to look at other opportunities.” 

Uvalde National Fish Hatchery

Uvalde National Fish Hatchery is just one of the many field stations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whose mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. 

There are lots of recreational opportunities at the hatchery. Stop by our Visitor Center for educational information or to view aquarium displays of endangered fish and salamanders. Across from our Visitor Center is a two-acre pond with walking paths, bird blinds, and areas to view birds, dragon flies, and other wildlife.  

Uvalde National Fish Hatchery is just one of the many field stations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whose mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. 

Driving Directions

754 County Road 203,Uvalde, TX, 78801 

We are located on County Road 203 south of Texas Highway 90, 0.25 miles west of the Uvalde County Fairgrounds.  

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Uvalde mass shooting survivors, victims' families sue UPS and FedEx

AUSTIN, Texas — Families of the children who survived the 2022 Robb Elementary mass shooting and parents of those who died have filed a lawsuit against UPS and FedEx, claiming the shipping companies played a part in the massacre that left two teachers and 19 children dead by transporting the rifle and trigger accessories to the gunman.

The lawsuit, filed in Bexar County in May, seeks a jury trial to determine compensatory and punitive damages. The suit claims that the actions of the shipping company caused the families to "suffer and sustain severe physical, mental, and emotional harm" that has resulted and will continue to result in medical expenses and losses of income throughout their lives.

FedEx delivered the AR-15-style rifle to Oasis Outback, which is where the shooter picked up the firearm, the lawsuit said. UPS sent the Hell-Fire trigger modification, which allows a semiautomatic rifle to shoot at a faster rate of speed, to the shooter.

The lawsuit cites the companies' rules for sending packages, such as a UPS rule that claims "shipments must not contain goods which might endanger human or animal life" and another from FedEx that says it's "not acceptable" to ship "firearms, weaponry, ammunition, and their parts."

UPS on lawsuit: Company will 'defend accordingly'

The suit also claims the carriers violated federal codes for interstate sales of firearms and that UPS broke a federal law that bans firearms within 1,000 feet of schools by shipping the trigger modification to the shooter's home address, which was within 1,000 feet of Robb Elementary.

A statement by UPS said the lawsuit "has no merit" and that the company would "defend accordingly."

"Our hearts go out to the Uvalde victims and their families," the statement read. "Shipping firearms and components is highly regulated; UPS complies, and requires its customers to comply, with all applicable federal laws."

FedEx also said the company is "committed to the lawful, secure, and safe movement of regulated items through our network, and we comply with applicable laws and regulations." The company had not been served as of Monday, the statement said.

Additionally, the suit states that the shooter was under the age of 18 when he purchased the weapon and trigger modification, which is illegal. A report by the Texas House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting said the shooter bought the rifle shortly after turning 18.

Lawsuit against Meta, Activision

The lawsuit was filed on the second anniversary of the mass shooting, the same day parents and relatives of those killed filed another suit against social media and video game companies and a gun manufacturer.

The wrongful death suits were filed in Texas and California against Meta, Instagram's parent company; Activision, a video game publisher; and Daniel Defense, a weapons company that manufactured the assault rifle used by the mass shooter in Uvalde.

A news release sent by the law offices of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder PC and Guerra LLP said the lawsuits show that, over the past 15 years, the three companies have partnered in a "scheme that preys upon insecure, adolescent boys."

According to the release, Salvador Ramos, the lone gunman in the Robb Elementary massacre, purchased the assault rifle he used in the shooting minutes after he turned 18. Days later, he carried out the second worst mass shooting in the country's history, where hundreds of law enforcement officers waited more than an hour before entering the classroom.