A 17-year-old senior at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky lost his life on Friday, May 10, following an injury he sustained while attempting to stop a fight in the school’s restroom, according to the family’s attorney and local law enforcement.
Emmanuel Mwakadi was identified as the deceased by the Fayette County Coroner’s office.
Mwakadi was rushed to UK Chandler Hospital on Friday, where he died from his injuries. Justin Peterson, the Lexington attorney representing the victim’s family, stated that the incident transpired between the first and second periods when Mwakadi intervened in a fight in the men’s bathroom.
“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 explained. He further noted that the 17-year-old was just weeks away from graduation and was set to be the first in his family to attend college.
Emergency services were called after Mwakadi appeared to have a seizure.
Major Derek Roberts led the Lexington Fire Department in responding to the emergency call around 10:09 a.m.
The school contacted Mwakadi’s mother shortly after 10 a.m., Peterson stated. She then received another call instructing her to go to the hospital. Upon her arrival, she found the medical team attempting to resuscitate her son, who unfortunately passed away soon after.
The family of the 17-year-old noted that he had no prior health issues. Mwakadi was active in sports, including football and wrestling.
Peterson, the family’s attorney, plans to scrutinize various elements of the incident, including the initial cause of Mwakadi’s injuries, the timeline, and the adequacy of the medical response, to determine if these factors contributed to the teenager’s sudden death. While Lexington Police have not confirmed a formal investigation, Peterson plans to liaise with law enforcement, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and Fayette County Public Schools officials.
Peterson criticized the school for not communicating effectively with Mwakadi’s family after the incident. He claimed the school failed to express condolences or provide updates on the situation. This contrasts with the statement from Dia Davidson-Smith, a spokesperson for Fayette County Public Schools, who asserted that school leaders and teachers have been in “constant contact” with the deceased student’s family since the incident.
“On behalf of the superintendent and the entire Fayette County Public Schools family, our deepest sympathies,” Davidson-Smith expressed, affirming ongoing support from the school district for Mwakadi’s family during this difficult time.
A memorial service honoring Mwakadi was held on Tuesday night, May 14, organized by his close friends, Tanner Fitzpatrick and Aiden Bolin.
At the behest of his family, an autopsy is scheduled.
