Ghost Gun Giant Ordered to Pay Record $104.2 Million in

In a stunning blow to the ghost gun industry, a Nebraska-based company has been ordered to pay a record-shattering $104.2 million after a Kentucky jury found it responsible for the death of an 18-year-old Louisville teen who bought an untraceable pistol kit online.

This verdict marks the largest ever against a gun dealer and sends an unmistakable warning to companies that profit from bypassing age limits and background checks.

Ghost Gun Giant Ordered to Pay Record $104.2 Million in Louisville Teen's Death

Louisville, Kentucky – July 16, 2026 — A Jefferson County jury delivered a historic $104.2 million verdict on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, against Husky Armory LLC and its owner Cody Yurk after finding the company liable for selling a Glock-style build kit to 18-year-old Henry Willis, who assembled the weapon and died by suicide just six days later. The award includes $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages, eclipsing the previous record $73 million settlement paid by Remington to Sandy Hook families.

The Verdict

The Jefferson County jury in Louisville returned its decision after a two-day trial that followed a prior default judgment against Husky Armory LLC for failing to respond to the lawsuit. The total award of $104.2 million stands as the largest verdict ever recorded against a gun dealer, surpassing the $73 million Remington settlement tied to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This outcome directly addressed how Husky Armory skirted federal regulations that bar sales of gun-assembly kits to individuals under 21. The company and owner Cody Yurk did not appear at trial, leaving the jury to weigh the evidence presented by Everytown Law on behalf of the family without opposition.

Husky Armory sold more than 25,000 products since opening in 2021, outpacing 98 percent of licensed dealers, yet its business filings in multiple states remain delinquent. During the ongoing lawsuit Cody Yurk registered another ghost gun company, underscoring the industry's persistent efforts to exploit regulatory gaps even as courts intervene.

The silence from Husky Armory was deafening throughout the legal process. The company never filed a single document, never appeared in court, and never offered any defense. Judge Brian Edwards entered a default judgment last fall, finding the company liable. When the damages phase finally arrived, the jury heard unchallenged testimony from ghost gun experts and the grieving mother who had waited years for accountability.

The jury deliberated on two figures: compensatory damages reflecting what Henry Willis would have earned in his lifetime, and punitive damages meant to punish Husky Armory and deter similar companies. The $100 million punitive award exceeded even what the family's attorneys had hoped for. According to Tad Thomas, the Louisville attorney representing the family, companies across the ghost gun industry were watching this case closely, waiting to see whether ignoring the law was worth the risk.

Henry Willis's Story

Henry Willis, an 18-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, purchased the Glock G19 pistol build kit from Husky Armory LLC in 2023. He assembled the handgun in his garage, telling his father it was a transistor radio. Six days later he used the weapon to end his life. His mother, Laura Herp, described her son as a "kind, gentle child" who had struggled with mental health issues in the months leading up to his death. She emphasized that companies like Husky Armory profit from selling to those who should not have access, noting they "didn't care who Henry was" and "didn't even bother showing up to the trial."

Former ATF official Marianna Mitchem testified that such kits can be assembled in 30 to 60 minutes using basic tools. Dr. Alex McCourt of Johns Hopkins further noted that 90 percent of suicide attempt survivors ultimately die by other causes, highlighting how easy access to untraceable firearms can prove fatal during moments of crisis.

How the Kit Was Sold Online

Husky Armory LLC, based in Omaha, Nebraska, advertised the Glock G19 pistol "build kit" on its website with the promise of "everything you need to build your own Glock style pistol from the comfort of your home." The site further claimed the weapon could be assembled by "nearly anyone with a brain." This marketing directly targeted buyers like 18-year-old Henry Willis, bypassing the age-verification and background-check requirements that federal regulations impose on such sales. The case centered on whether these tactics violated rules barring sales of gun-assembly kits to those under 21, rules the Supreme Court had upheld just over a year earlier in regulations from the Biden administration requiring serial numbers, background checks, and age verification on homemade weapons.

The term "80 percent" was coined by the ghost gun community rather than federal law. The Gun Control Act of 1968 was enacted after President Kennedy's assassination by a mail-order rifle, establishing the age and background-check framework that companies like Husky Armory have sought to circumvent through unserialized kits.

Legal Battle

Everytown Law represented the Willis family throughout the proceedings. Attorney Dana Mulhauser stated after the verdict: "This historic verdict sends a powerful message to ghost-gun sellers who set up businesses to profit by circumventing critical safeguards like background checks and age verification. Henry should be home with his family today, and Laura deserved more time and opportunity to help her son heal." A state court in Louisville had already issued a default judgment against Husky Armory for failing to respond to the lawsuit, setting the stage for the two-day trial that produced the $104.2 million award. The absence of the company and owner Cody Yurk at trial left the jury's findings on economic and punitive damages unchallenged in the courtroom.

Industry Impact

The $104.2 million verdict exceeds the $73 million settlement awarded to Sandy Hook families by Remington, establishing a new benchmark for accountability in the ghost gun sector. By focusing on Husky Armory's online sales practices and failure to enforce age restrictions, the decision highlights the risks faced by companies that advertise unserialized kits as easy home-assembly projects. The timing, coming shortly after Supreme Court affirmation of Biden-era rules on serial numbers and background checks, reinforces that sellers can no longer rely on regulatory gaps to shield themselves from liability when sales reach minors in crisis.

ATF data shows recoveries of 8,504 ghost guns in 2020 rising to more than 19,000 in 2021, illustrating the rapid proliferation of these weapons and the urgent need for accountability measures like those imposed on Husky Armory.

What This Means

This verdict demonstrates that courts will impose substantial financial consequences when companies prioritize sales over compliance with age and background-check requirements. The $100 million punitive component, paired with the $4.2 million in economic damages, reflects the jury's view of the harm caused when an 18-year-old like Henry Willis could obtain and assemble a firearm in days without any verification process. Families and advocates now have a clear precedent showing that default judgments and trial evidence can produce record-setting awards even when defendants choose not to participate, pressuring the broader industry to strengthen safeguards rather than exploit loopholes.

The record $104.2 million verdict against Husky Armory LLC stands as a turning point that prioritizes accountability over unchecked online sales of ghost gun kits. Laura Herp's words capture the stakes: a child in crisis should never access a deadly weapon, and companies that ignore this reality now face the full weight of jury decisions. This outcome protects future families by making clear that profit-driven circumvention of federal rules carries irreversible costs.

By Jessica Ali, Staff Writer