DOVER, Del. — Three teenage girls have been charged in a
high school restroom assault in Delaware that left a 16-year-old girl dead,
authorities said Monday.
The Delaware attorney general's office announced the charges
after meeting earlier in the day with the mother and older brother of the
victim, Amy Joyner-Francis.
Joyner-Francis, a sophomore at Wilmington's Howard High
School of Technology, died April 21 after a fight broke out shortly before
classes were to begin.
Authorities said a 16-year-old girl, the only person
believed to have struck Joyner-Francis, is charged with criminally negligent
homicide, which is punishable by up to eight years in prison. Prosecutors said
they will seek permission from Family Court to have the girl tried as an adult
in state Superior Court.
The other two suspects, also 16, are charged with
third-degree criminal conspiracy, which is punishable by up to a year in
prison, they added. They will be tried in Family Court.
The Associated Press is not naming any of the suspects
because they are juveniles.
Authorities noted that while the evidence indicates that all
three suspects were involved in planning a confrontation with Joyner-Francis,
only one actually hit her. Authorities did not disclose a motive for the
confrontation.
"The individuals responsible for Amy Joyner-Francis's
death are minors, but they must be held accountable for their actions,"
the state Department of Justice said in a statement.
Authorities disclosed Monday that Joyner-Francis died of
sudden cardiac death, with a contributing factor of physical and emotional
stress because of the physical assault. An autopsy did not detect any internal
injuries or significant blunt force injuries.
"In layman's terms, the medical examiner determined
that Amy died from a cardiac incident that she was vulnerable to because of a
pre-existing heart condition, but the cardiac incident would not have occurred
if she had not been assaulted," the DOJ statement read.
According to a police affidavit, a video of the assault
obtained by investigators shows a girl striking Joyner-Francis repeatedly in
the head and torso with what appears to be a closed fist. As the attacker
leaves, Joyner-Francis then attempts to stand up.
"Witnesses confirm that Joyner-Francis then began
exhibiting disorientation and collapsed shortly thereafter," the affidavit
reads.
Authorities also said in court documents that written and
oral communications among the three suspects indicate that the assault was
planned over the course of the preceding 20 hours.
Chief state public defender Brendan O'Neill, whose office is
representing one of the suspects charged with conspiracy, described the death
of Joyner-Francis as "a terrible accident in the context of an ugly
incident."
"It's a tragedy all the way around," he said.
"The consequences are going to be life-changing for all the kids
involved."
Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams issued a statement saying
the charges are a "first step" in providing the victim's family and
the community with closure.
"As this process moves forward, I ask that we keep the
family and loved ones of everyone involved in our thoughts and prayers,"
Williams said.
Police Chief Bobby Cummings did not immediately to requests
for comment.
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