On Friday, May 10, Emmanuel Mwakadi, a 17-year-old student at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky, passed away. Mwakadi’s death allegedly resulted from injuries sustained while attempting to intervene in a fight in the school bathroom. Both the family’s attorney and local law enforcement confirmed the incident.
Mwakadi was rushed to UK Chandler Hospital on the day of the incident where he later died from his injuries. The family’s attorney, Justin Peterson, explained that the incident happened between the first and second periods when Mwakadi stepped in to stop a fight in one of the men’s restrooms.
“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 stated. The attorney also noted that Mwakadi was only weeks away from graduation and would have been the first in his family to attend college.
Emergency services were called to the scene after Mwakadi seemingly suffered a seizure.
At approximately 10:09 a.m., Major Derek Roberts and the Lexington Fire Department responded to the emergency call.
Peterson relayed that shortly after 10 a.m., the school contacted Mwakadi’s mother. She received a subsequent call directing her to the hospital. Upon her arrival, she found the medical team attempting to resuscitate her son, who died shortly afterward.
Mwakadi’s family stated that the teenager had never previously experienced health issues. He was an active participant in sports, including football and wrestling.
Attorney Peterson plans to investigate several aspects of the incident, such as the initial cause of Mwakadi’s injuries, the timeline of events, the adequacy of the medical response, and their potential role in the unexpected death. Although Lexington Police have not confirmed a formal investigation, Peterson plans to engage with law enforcement, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and officials from Fayette County Public Schools.
Peterson criticized the school for its alleged lack of communication with Mwakadi’s family after the incident. This is in conflict with statements from Dia Davidson-Smith, a spokesperson for Fayette County Public Schools, who asserted that school leaders and teachers have maintained “constant contact” with the bereaved family since the incident.
“On behalf of the superintendent and the entire Fayette County Public Schools family, our deepest sympathies,” Davidson-Smith expressed, pledging continued support for Mwakadi’s family during this difficult time.
On the evening of Tuesday, May 14, numerous individuals gathered for a memorial to honor Mwakadi. His close friends, Tanner Fitzpatrick and Aiden Bolin, organized the event.
At the family’s request, an autopsy is being conducted.
