‘I want to find out what happened’: Family awaits answers in deadly school fight that killed 10-year-old girl

"I'm here today looking for justice for my daughter," Jermaine Van Dyke said.

Apr 2, 2019

The father of RaNiya Wright, the 10-year-old South Carolina fifth-grader who died Wednesday after suffering injuries during a classroom fight, is speaking out about the tragic incident and how school officials have provided him with little to no information about what caused his daughter’s untimely passing.

“I’m here today looking for justice for my daughter,” Jermaine Van Dyke said, NBC News reported. “I want to find out what happened, how it happened, and who was involved.”

The fight occurred at Forest Hills Elementary School on March 25, but school officials have yet to disclose to Van Dyke’s attorneys any information about what led to the brawl or who was involved, NBC New said. Van Dyke said he also hasn’t been contacted by police or the solicitor’s office.

“We simply want to know what has happened, where do we stand in the investigation and what information can be provided to Mr. Van Dyke so that he can find out more as to what exactly happened to lead to the death of his daughter,” said David Aylor, one of the father’s attorneys.

Van Dyke’s other lawyer, Mark Peper, said a teacher informed him that “the school was on notice that there were some altercations occurring on a very regular basis between individuals in this specific classroom.”

The Colleton County School District confirmed that the other fifth-grader involved in the fatal fight has been suspended.

Meanwhile, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office is reportedly investigating the incident.

Attorneys for the Wright’s mother, Ashley Wright, also noted in a statement Friday that the family is seeking answers from the school district.

“They are awaiting answers to questions regarding the circumstances surrounding Raniya’s tragic death including was there appropriate supervision in the classroom, and what, if any, steps did school administrators take to intervene in the fight,” the statement said.

The little girl’s funeral will be held Wednesday.