Death of Amy Joyner-Francis

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Death of Amy Joyner-Francis
Howard HS Wilmington.JPG
Entrance to Howard High School of Technology
DateApril 21, 2016 (2016-04-21)
Timec. 8:18 am EST[1]
LocationHoward High School of Technology, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Coordinates39°44′47.6″N 75°32′29.6″W / 39.746556°N 75.541556°W / 39.746556; -75.541556Coordinates: 39°44′47.6″N 75°32′29.6″W / 39.746556°N 75.541556°W / 39.746556; -75.541556
TypeAssault, school violence, homicide
MotivePersonal dispute
Deaths1 (Amy Joyner-Francis)
VerdictGuilty on all counts
ConvictionsTrinity Carr: negligent homicide (overturned), third-degree criminal conspiracy[2][3]

Zion Snow: third-degree criminal conspiracy

Chakeira Wright: third-degree criminal conspiracy
Sentence6 months in juvenile detention (Trinity Carr)[4]

On April 21, 2016, Amy Joyner-Francis, a female 16-year-old student at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, Delaware, was assaulted and killed by another student in a school bathroom while two other students assisted. The incident was widely publicized and started controversy about the appropriate charges of teenagers involved in situations of school violence and assault.[5]

Criminal charges and lawsuits[]

Trinity Carr, the student who assaulted and killed Joyner-Francis, was originally charged with both negligent homicide and third-degree criminal conspiracy, while Zion Snow and Chakeira Wright were only charged with the latter.[6] All three girls were released on bail in May 2016, but were later found guilty on all counts.[7]

On March 1, 2018, the Supreme Court of Delaware overturned Carr's negligent homicide conviction, ruling that Carr could not have known that Joyner-Francis would die when she assaulted her. Her conspiracy conviction, however, was upheld.[8]

Joyner-Francis's parents settled a lawsuit with the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District for negligence and deprivation of constitutional rights in April 2018.[9]

Aftermath[]

An autopsy by the Delaware medical examiner determined that Joyner-Francis died from cardiac arrest, caused by blunt force trauma and complications from a previous heart condition that Joyner-Francis had prior to her assault. It was confirmed, however, that Joyner-Francis would not have died if she had not been assaulted.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Lehman, Tom (21 Apr 2016). "Classmates hold vigil for student fatally wounded in attack at Howard High School". WDEL. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. ^ Horn, Brittany (9 May 2016). "3 teens charged in death of Howard High School student". Delaware Online. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. ^ Wilson, Xerxes (1 March 2018). "Delaware Supreme Court overturns conviction in fatal Howard High School bathroom attack". Delaware Online. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  4. ^ https://www.wdel.com/news/the-tragic-death-of-wilmingtons-16-year-old-amy-joyner-francis/collection_226c6a68-c893-11e6-8c7e-d7ce0d166a23.html
  5. ^ Lehman, Tom (21 Apr 2016). "Classmates hold vigil for student fatally wounded in attack at Howard High School". WDEL. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. ^ Horn, Brittany (9 May 2016). "3 teens charged in death of Howard High School student". Delaware Online. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. ^ Cherry, Amy (10 May 2016). "Girls charged in Joyner-Francis death free on bail". WDEL. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  8. ^ Wilson, Xerxes (1 Mar 2018). "Delaware Supreme Court overturns conviction in fatal Howard High School bathroom attack". Delaware Online. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Family of Delaware Girl Who Died in School Beating Settles with School District". Murphy & Landon. 10 Dec 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  10. ^ Wilson, Xerxes (2 Mar 2018). "Joyner-Francis family 'cannot find peace or justice' in Delaware, spokeswoman says". Delaware Online. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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