RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Tameeka Jackson-Smith, the mother of 18-year-old Shawn Jackson and widow of 36-year-old Lorenzo Smith, has filed two federal wrongful death lawsuits against Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and Richmond City School Board. Today, for the first time, her lawyers answered questions about the lawsuits, which seek a total of $26 million in damages.
Jackson and Smith were shot and killed last year after Huguenot High School’s graduation ceremony outside of the Altria Theater. Jackson-Smith’s lawsuit, which seeks $26 million in damages, alleges that the school district, which was aware of threats against Jackson’s life, failed in its duty to protect him during the event.
These lawsuits come just months after Amari Pollard, who was 19 at the time, pleaded guilty to the murder of Shawn Jackson. It is not known who shot and killed Smith.
According to Jackson-Smith and her legal team, the district’s negligence is evident in the decision to allow Jackson, who was part of the RPS Homebound Program and did not have clearance for in-person attendance, to be present at the ceremony.