Widow of mass shooting victim sues for $58M

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — The widow of a man killed in last month’s mass shooting in San Bernardino has filed four claims against the county and is seeking damages totaling $58 million, according to a newspaper report.

The claims were filed in late December on behalf of Renee Wetzel, whose 37-year-old husband Michael Wetzel was one of 14 people killed in the attack at the Inland Regional Center, the San Bernardino Sun reported.

No other claims stemming from the shootings have been filed against San Bernardino County, a spokeswoman  told The Associated Press.

Michael Wetzel, of Lake Arrowhead, worked as a supervising environmental health specialist for the county. He was killed while attending a holiday luncheon and training session for the county health department.

His widow is seeking $3 million from San Bernardino County for loss of wages and $25 million in general damages. She is also seeking $10 million in general damages for each of her three minor children.

The claims, which list the county and 25 unidentified individuals as respondents, alleges Wetzel’s death was preventable and caused by negligent, careless actions of the respondents.

The FBI called the shooting the deadliest terror strike on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001.

The two shooters — county environmental health specialist Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik — were killed in a gun battle with police.