Georgia school issued warning before teacher killed in prank gone wrong
· Toronto Sun
Hours before a Georgia teacher was fatally run over in a student prank gone wrong, the local school district told students not to “engage in destructive behaviour,” the Daily Mail reported.
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The Hall County School District shared a lengthy message on Facebook on Thursday about responsibility and detailed how students are expected to act during its annual “Junior/Senior wars” — about 10 hours before North Hall math teacher Jason Hughes, 40, was killed.
Prank gone wrong
Hughes, who had been teaching at North Hall High School for eight years, stepped outside his Gainesville home around 11.40 p.m. that night after noticing a group of five students throwing toilet paper across the trees in his yard. The teens then ran toward two cars, but when Hughes stepped out into the street, one of the vehicles, driven by Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, struck and killed him, police said.
Wallace and his four friends, Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, all 18 years old, were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
“ In previous years, some pranks during prom season — sometimes referred to as Junior/Senior Wars — have gone too far, resulting in damage to property. We urge all students to refrain from participating in any activities that may cause harm or destruction to school or personal property. Such actions not only reflect poorly on the individual involved but also tarnish the reputation of our schools, families, and community,” the school district said in the Facebook post.
“ It’s essential to recognize the serious consequences that can arise from engaging in destructive behavior. Damaging property can lead to criminal charges, not to mention the potential repercussions on your participation in graduation ceremonies and other special events planned for this time of year. We cannot stress enough the importance of making responsible choices and thinking about the long-term impact of your actions.”
Teacher was target
Reports said Hughes’ home was a target, with the kids getting “points” if they pranked a teacher’s house. If the student was caught, the points were deducted. Hughes’ house, where he lived with his wife Laura (also a teacher at the school) had been pranked in the past, with toilet paper lining his tree and driveway.
After Hughes was hit by Wallace’s car, the 18-year-old and two others stopped to try to give him first aid until paramedics arrived. The father of two was taken to hospital, where he died. Wallace was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property. He posted $11,080 bail and is scheduled for court on April 1. His friends were also arrested and charged with criminal trespass and littering.
Community in mourning
Hughes was described in local media reports as a great teacher and youth mentor.
“If I ever had problems, I could always run and call to him, like if I have the financial questions, or if I just had some personal issues going on,” Shayden Maynor, one of Hughes’ former students, told 11 Alive. Maynor graduated in 2002, kept in touch with Hughes, and attended his memorial at North Hall High School on Saturday.
“We grieved together, we laughed, we made jokes, and it was just really bad for the community that we had lost somebody so special like that,” she said.
North Hall sophomore Olivia Williams said Hughes always tried to be as supportive as he could, and that the school community is there to support his widow.
“ He always tried to make conversations with students, and he always just tried to be the most supportive he could,” Williams told local news. “He would show up to events that he didn’t even know anything about just to be supportive, and that’s going to be a really big thing that’s going to be missed.”
“I really just want her to know that there’s so many people that love and care about them, and they’re not alone in this and that if they ever need a shoulder.”
A GoFundMe to support Hughes’ family has raised over $200,000.
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