Latest news with #ArdreyKellHighSchool
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ardrey Kell High principal to retire weeks after being suspended with pay
Ardrey Kell High School principal Jamie Brooks is retiring after being suspended with pay earlier this month. PAST COVERAGE: Ardrey Kell High School principal suspended with pay 'It is with my deepest sadness that I write to you to share that I have made a decision that is best for me to retire effective June 1,' Brooks said in a statement to families. Channel 9 confirmed that Brooks was suspended with pay on May 2. Assistant principal Tomica Wright will continue to be the lead school administrator with assistance from performance area executive director Crystal Houser. In April, Channel 9 reported on a fight involving a Muslim female student and a Black male student. After investigating, CMPD and the FBI found no evidence to support any criminal charges. It is unknown why Brooks was suspended before she announced her retirement. VIDEO: 'I'm here to fight for her': Parent speaks out in support of Ardrey Kell principal
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen's family sues for defamation after fight at Ardrey Kell High School
CHARLOTTE () — A teenage boy's family is suing after they say a girl's family mischaracterized their son and the incident. The civil lawsuit stems from an at Ardrey Kell High School on Friday, March 7, when a black male student and a Muslim female student were involved in an altercation. The girl's the alleged fight was fueled by racial and religious hatred, with the male student, a football player, punching her multiple times in the head. They continue that the girl will need reconstructive surgery. However, that no derogatory terms were used. They continue that the female student continually bullied their son and attacked the boy first. The male student reportedly spent almost ten minutes trying to de-escalate the situation and, the family says, was forced to defend himself. After review, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) task force . In a joint statement, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office said the evidence collected did not rise to the level of a hate crime. The girl's family says they by the FBI prior to this decision. Those on are calling for the video of the fight to be released. On Wednesday, May 28, lawyers for the boy's family announced that a civil lawsuit had been filed against the girl's family and other representatives. The lawsuit is seeking damages for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, libel, slander, and defamation. The lawsuit alleges that the girl's family and representatives for them made statements in bad faith and without care for the safety of the boy and his family. The 'blatantly false' statements made to the media, on social media, and elsewhere reportedly alleged that the boy was charged, that he used steroids and derogatory terms, and that the incident was a 'brutal beating.' Funeral held Tuesday for 16-month-old Maddy after tragic death at Lenoir daycare The lawsuit also claims that the girl pressured one of her classmates to change their police statement in her favor and that the girl's family tried to intimidate the boy's family at a court hearing by blocking the courtroom door. Lawyers continue that the boy's home has been vandalized, his family has been threatened through phone calls and messages, and their personal contact information has been shared on social media. Officers are reportedly having to post a security detail at the boy's 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CMS faces backlash over handling of Ardrey Kell fight investigation
Parents and activists spoke out against a fight between two students at Ardrey Kell High School during the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School meeting Tuesday night. Inside sources told Channel 9′s Jonathan Lowe that, despite concerned parents and citizens calling for the school district to continue looking into this incident, it is being viewed as a school fight where the students were disciplined. The district now just wants to move forward. However, many residents said they are not satisfied with how CMS handled the investigation into the fight between a female Muslim student and a male football player last month. Activists alleged that the male student, who identifies as multiethnic, attacked the female student because of her religion, while also using racial slurs. The parents of that male student, however, have denied both those allegations. ALSO READ: Family calls for change after fight at local high school Last week, both the FBI and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said there was no evidence to support criminal ethnic intimidation charges. But Muslim leaders said they are not giving up. Activists said the racially charged situation is the reason they should take a closer look. 'There have been several racist incidents at Ardrey Kell; students are told to turn the other cheek,' one activist said. 'I know that we're short-staffed; I understand that we don't have a whole lot of funds, but I do know bullying is a huge problem within CMS,' another activist echoed. Representatives with the NAACP said they hope even though no charges are being pressed, the impact of this controversy isn't swept to the side. 'It's important that we begin to teach implicit bias and dismantling racism training in the school system, not only for the teachers and administration but also the students,' those representatives said. There were also calls for the district to release surveillance footage in connection with the incident. However, the district said that since the video correlates with student records, the video is not going to be released. VIDEO: Charlotte NAACP chapter responds to fight at Ardrey Kell High School
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘There's only one truth': Family disputes hate crime allegations in Ardrey Kell fight
Family members of the boy involved in last month's Ardrey Kell fight are sharing their side in an exclusive interview with Channel 9′s Joe Bruno. On the same day, police said no hate crime charges would be filed after the fight. Last month, their 15-year-old son got into a fight with a 15-year-old girl at Ardrey Kell High School. 'In any story, there are multiple versions, but there's only one truth,' the boy's mother said. 'The truth is that the story and the narrative that's been communicated broadly is not factual.' The boy's mother and father asked not to be identified but say they wanted to do the interview to dispel 'false narratives' that are circulating in the community. Last month, activists and family members of the female student involved held a press conference alleging she was attacked by their son because she is Muslim. They claimed he used racial slurs. The boy's parents dispute both statements and say witnesses back them up. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Family calls for change after fight at local high school 'There were no racial religious ethnic slurs ever exchanged on either side,' the boy's mother said. 'There is no evidence from all of the witnesses that unfortunately were in the vicinity of this classroom fight between two children that was fully instigated by the female student. There was never any racial cultural religious targeting whatsoever.' The parents say this was a classroom fight that was started by the female student. 'We have no hatred and no ill will towards any ethnic group,' the boy's father said. 'We're multi-ethnic ourselves in our household and so we teach our children those same values.' The fight came after 'incessant bullying,' according to the parents. They say their son tried to deescalate the situation and the female student 'chose violence,' resulting in their son having to defend himself. 'We don't condone violence of any sort, but she was the student who harassed our son,' the boy's mom said. 'Our son tried to deescalate. It wasn't until she physically assaulted him that the altercation took the turn that it took.' In last month's press conference, supporters of the female student said she suffered significant injuries to her face. The male student's family says they tried to reach out to the other family involved privately but their efforts were turned down, and following the press conference, they've been harassed and threatened 'We're telling our truth but ultimately the truth will be told in the evidence,' the boy's mom said. 'As this story continues to be shared, we won't have to be the voice of our truth because the evidence will be available to the public to see the truth for themselves.' 'We're dealing with this day by day and are thankful for the support that we've gotten from many people since the incident,' the boy's father said. CMS suspended both students involved in the fight. The district declined to comment on specifics about the incident, citing student privacy. A CMPD statement after the incident implied an FBI investigation. However, the FBI has never confirmed the investigation's existence. The bar is high for hate crime charges and it is rare for a juvenile to be charged with a hate. CMPD sent Channel 9 a statement late Wednesday, saying: 'CMPD detectives assigned to an FBI task force reviewed this case based on the allegation of a hate crime. After investigation, there is currently no evidence to support a criminal charge under N.C.G.S 14-3 (Punishment enhancements for crimes committed with ethnic animosity) or N.C.G.S. 14-401-14 (Ethnic Intimidation). CMPD has confirmed that there is currently no active investigation by the FBI into this matter as there is no evidence to support that the crime occurred due to the victim's religion, race or ethnicity.' (VIDEO: Man's death after fight with transit center security guards deemed justified)
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Family calls for hate crime charges after attack at local high school
The family of an Ardrey Kell High School student is calling for hate crime charges after their daughter was allegedly attacked by another student last week inside the school in Ballantyne. The attack left the sophomore student bloody and bruised, according to her family, who claim she had been bullied by a football player for days before the incident. The family says the attack occurred in a classroom on Friday and that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is now investigating the incident. 4 juveniles suspected of car break-ins at south Charlotte shopping center The girl's family said she suffered three broken bones in her face and must undergo reconstructive surgery. 'He beat her with several punches to the head and face,' said Jabril Hough, a family spokesperson. At a news conference Wednesday, family members said the boy had bullied the girl for 10 days, and things escalated in a math class Friday. They said the boy hit her during an argument, and they said it took too long for teachers to intervene, according to the family. Brook Weis, with the group Moms of Liberty, stood with the family advocating for safer schools. 'We're talking about a small female and a football player,' Weis said. 'I don't care how it did or didn't start, no one, even if they're claiming self-defense, has the right to do this.' Family members said both the boy and girl were suspended. Officials with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district did not confirm the family's story. They declined to share any details about the incident, citing privacy laws. However, they did say that school leaders responded appropriately. 'Ardrey Kell followed all policies and procedures outlined in the board policy manual and student code of conduct, including calling law enforcement, calling 911 immediately, and providing medical attention,' said Tim Ivey, chief operations officer at CMS. The girl who was injured is Muslim, and family members say the boy used racial slurs before hitting her. They filed a police report and want the boy charged with a hate crime. District officials said CMPD is investigating the incident. CMPD did not respond on Wednesday to Channel 9′s questions. VIDEO: Dead, decomposed bat found in food donation bin at Ardrey Kell High
