A 17-year-old student from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky tragically lost his life on Friday, May 10 due to injuries sustained while breaking up a fight in the school bathroom. The information was provided by the family’s lawyer and local law enforcement.
The deceased teenager was identified as Emmanuel Mwakadi by the Fayette County Coroner’s office.
Following the incident, Mwakadi was rushed to UK Chandler Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The family’s attorney, Justin Peterson of Lexington, stated that the incident happened between the first and second periods when the teenager stepped in to stop a fight in the men’s restroom.
“He came out and complained about an injury to his head and neck, went to second period (and) toward the end of the second period, he suffered an event that required the summoning of emergency medical personnel,” Peterson said. The attorney further noted that the teenager was weeks away from graduation and would have been the first in his family to attend college.
Emergency medical services were called to the school after Mwakadi appeared to have a seizure.
Major Derek Roberts and his Lexington Fire Department team responded to the emergency call at approximately 10:09 a.m.
The school contacted Mwakadi’s mother shortly after 10 a.m., Peterson disclosed. Following the initial call, she received another instructing her to head to the hospital. Upon arrival, she found medical personnel attempting to revive her son, who passed away shortly thereafter.
Mwakadi’s family stated that he had no prior health conditions and was an active participant in sports, including football and wrestling.
Attorney Peterson plans to investigate various aspects of the incident, from the initial cause of the injuries to the timeline and adequacy of the medical response, to determine if these factors contributed to the unexpected death. Although the Lexington Police have not confirmed an official investigation, Peterson plans to liaise with law enforcement, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and officials from Fayette County Public Schools.
Peterson criticized the school for an alleged lack of communication with Mwakadi’s family following the incident, contrasting sharply with claims from Dia Davidson-Smith, a representative for Fayette County Public Schools. Davidson-Smith stated that school leaders and teachers have maintained “constant contact” with the bereaved family since the incident.
“On behalf of the superintendent and the entire Fayette County Public Schools family, our deepest sympathies,” Davidson-Smith expressed, pledging the school district’s continued support for Mwakadi’s family during this difficult time.
On Tuesday night, May 14, a group of individuals, including close friends Tanner Fitzpatrick and Aiden Bolin, gathered for a memorial to honor Mwakadi.
At the family’s request, an autopsy will be conducted to further investigate the cause of death.
