BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Kentucky school fight video contradicts superintendent’s statement

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A video has turned up that seems to show a Henry Clay High School student breaking up a fight sometime in the days before he died.

The video, which was shot by a student, contradicts a statement by the Fayette County Public Schools superintendent that reports of a fight were only rumors.

Attorney Justin Peterson said the family of 17-year-old Emmanuel Mwakadi is disappointed with Wednesday’s statement from the superintendent, Dr. Demetrus Liggins, stating that Mwakadi was not involved in breaking up a fight before his death. That’s what compelled the law firm to release the video and clarify what happened before the incident.

Peterson, who serves as Mwakadi’s family attorney, said his legal team has been trying to work with FCPS to investigate Mwakadi’s untimely death at school. They most recently met on Tuesday.

“I thought we had a good meeting yesterday,” said Peterson. “And then we get this statement, indicating that what the family has said is false.”

Dr. Liggins released a statement in an attempt to clear up rumors, saying in part, “Emmanuel never entered a restroom on May 10 nor was he involved in a fight or the act of breaking up a fight.”

But the video, given to NewsNation affiliate WDKY just hours after that statement was released, tells a different story.

“Number one, there was a fight at Henry Clay High School. Number two, Emanuel intervened to break up that fight. Number three, he was injured during that fight. And you can clearly see him hit. Number four, he complained of head and neck pain following that fight in the days that followed,” Peterson said.

The contradiction may be in the timing. The school system said there was no fight on the day Emmanuel died. Peterson said the fight in the video happened in the weeks leading up to Mwakadi’s death. He also noted that preliminary autopsy findings show Mwakadi suffered from a brain bleed.

The family is now calling for change in the school system, hoping more resources will be dedicated to training that will help keep students safe at school.

“Students are complaining of fights almost every day, if not every day, inside of the school,” said Peterson. “Parents have come to us with evidence indicating that their child was subjected to violence in Fayette County Public Schools.”

Peterson said his legal team has requested that FCPS hand over all surveillance video recorded at Henry Clay High School over the last 30 days.

“We hope that that they produce this information to us outside of a lawsuit so that we can be fully informed and let our client know what we plan to do next,” Peterson told WDKY.

The family’s legal team has not made any allegations or filed a lawsuit at this time. Peterson said they are simply working to gather all the information possible to make the most informed decision moving forward for Mwakadi’s family.

WDKY reached out to FCPS for a new statement after receiving the video on Wednesday, but their spokesperson, Dia Davidson-Smith, declined to comment.

Mid-South

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

66°F Sunny Feels like 66°
Wind
7 mph SW
Humidity
47%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
50°F Partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wind
6 mph NNW
Precip
10%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous