LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Jefferson County jury has ordered Omaha-based Husky Armory LLC to pay $104.2 million to the family of an 18-year-old who assembled a pistol from a kit bought online and later died by suicide, according to attorneys for the family.
Verdict in wrongful-death trial seen as precedent
The award, announced Wednesday, is being described by the family’s legal team as the largest-ever verdict against a gun seller. Plaintiffs argued at trial that Husky Armory skirted federal requirements put in place to curb sales of so-called ghost gun kits to people under 21, including background checks, serial-number rules and age verification.
"everything you need to build your own Glock style pistol from the comfort of your home,"
The lawsuit centers on the 2023 purchase by Henry Willis, who was 18 when he bought a Glock G19-style build kit from Husky Armory’s website and later assembled the handgun at home. According to family attorneys, Willis told his father he was working on a transistor radio before the weapon was completed and used it to take his own life six days after the purchase.
Federal regulation and the legal landscape
The case comes after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed federal rules enacted by the Biden administration to remain in effect that require unique serial numbers on homemade weapons and mandate background checks and age verification for buyers of certain parts and kits. Attorneys for the Willis family contended Husky Armory ignored those requirements.
Husky Armory and its owner, identified in the court filings as Cody Yurk, did not appear at the trial, and attorneys for the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company is based in Omaha, Nebraska.
Why the ruling matters locally and beyond
- Legal accountability: The verdict signals courts may hold online kit sellers responsible when they fail to follow federal safety and verification rules.
- Regulatory enforcement: It underscores the practical impact of federal measures aimed at reducing untraceable weapons.
- Public safety debate: The case feeds into broader state and national discussions on gun access, suicide prevention and vendor liability.
Everytown Law, which represented the Willis family, noted the award surpasses prior large judgments against gun manufacturers and sellers, including the $73 million settlement tied to the Sandy Hook families and a rifle manufacturer.
At a news conference following the verdict, Henry Willis’ mother described her son as a "kind, gentle child," according to the family’s attorneys. Local mental-health and suicide-prevention resources remain available to anyone in crisis, including the national lifeline at 988 and online at 988lifeline.org.
| Verdict | Amount |
|---|---|
| Willis family vs. Husky Armory | $104.2 million |
| Sandy Hook families vs. Remington (for comparison) | $73 million (settlement) |
As legal challenges and regulatory adjustments continue to evolve, the ruling in Jefferson County may influence how online sellers of firearm components operate and how courts weigh corporate responsibility when statutory protections for public safety are at issue.
Reporting from Jefferson County. More developments may follow as parties respond to the verdict and consider appeals.
