A Virginia mom says that a lack of action taken by school officials who stood by as her daughter had a medical emergency is responsible for the girl’s death.
Kaleiah Jones was 16 years old when she went to school on Feb. 20. According to a lawsuit filed by Kaleiah’s mother, Keyonna Stewart, Kaleiah suffered a cardiac issue and collapsed in a hallway at Menchville High School that day in Newport News, but despite having medical training — and access to potentially lifesaving machines — school officials did next to nothing for more than 16 minutes.
The school nurse, principal, assistant principals, and multiple security officers were “immediately notified by radio” of Kaleiah’s collapse, the lawsuit says, and they “promptly” arrived at the scene.
“Kaleiah’s heart had stopped and she was not breathing,” the lawsuit says. “But for nine minutes, the Defendants did nothing to aid Kaleiah.”
“No one started CPR,” the complaint continues. “And no one went to get one of the three automated external defibrillators (“AEDs”) positioned throughout the school for such a medical crisis.”