School fight did not contribute to Henry Clay High student’s death
A fight at Lexington’s Henry Clay High School was not a contributing factor in the May death of a 17-year-old student at the school, a Kentucky medical examiner has determined.
The July 23 report, released Monday to the Herald-Leader, said Emeka Emmanuel Mwakadi, who became unconscious in a classroom May 10 and died shortly thereafter at a hospital, died due to a seizure complicating a ruptured vascular malformation.
“The history of an altercation in the weeks prior to this death is noted, however, based on the microscopic features of this malformation, this altercation is not a contributory factor in this death,” the Office of the State Medical Examiner report said.
There were no drugs or alcohol present at the time of death and no trauma, the report said. The manner of death was natural.
The report provided by the Fayette Coroner’s Office noted that “(Emmanuel) was reportedly involved in an altercation while in school during the weeks prior.”
The Herald-Leader reported Emmanuel’s family initially said he complained of head and neck pain after breaking up a fight the day he died. But they later clarified that the fight occurred in the weeks prior and released a video showing the fight.
Justin Peterson, the family’s attorney, said since Emmanuel’s passing, “the family has simply wanted answers as to what happened to Emmanuel. Unfortunately, the autopsy has left us with more questions than answers.”
“To that end, the family has requested the pathology slides so an independent expert can help provide the answers we seek. Those slides have not yet been provided. Notably, the autopsy mentions Emmanuel was involved in ‘an altercation,’ but it is unclear if the examiner knows anything about said altercation or the what, when, how or why.
“We, as attorneys, have reviewed numerous autopsy results and are surprised at the level of speculation present in Emmanuel’s official autopsy findings, specifically as to the causation of death with no additional supporting findings, physical or otherwise.
“Sadly, the most important question remains unanswered, why this young man with no history of seizures allegedly suffered a traumatic event to his brain on that fateful day?”
Fayette County Public Schools spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said “Emmanuel remains a missed member of the FCPS family, and his memory will be forever cherished.”
“As we embark on the start of a new school year, our hearts and prayers remain with the Mwakadi family as they navigate life without their beloved son, brother, and family member,” she said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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