Parents seek answers after Delaware school death

Christie Ileto Image
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
VIDEO: Parents seek answers after Delaware school assault
Police say 16-year-old sophomore Amy Joyner-Francis was assaulted by two other students in a girls' restroom at Howard High School.

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- The conversations were candid and at times heated as parents and community members came to get answers after a student was killed during an assault in a high school bathroom.

Police say 16-year-old sophomore Amy Joyner-Francis was assaulted by two other students in a girls' restroom at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington last week and died from her injuries.

Officials say they're waiting on an autopsy report before filing charges.

"One of the things we did not want to do is we did not want to rush to judgement and place charges that could possibly be overturned or we look like we didn't know what we were doing," Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings said during Monday night's meeting.

Alexandria Rogers, one of Amy's close friends, attended the town hall.

"She's not a fighter and she would not fight over something dumb," Rogers said. "We need to stop the fighting, we need more security because this should not happen."

Earlier in the day, adults greeted students as they returned back to Howard High.

"Today it was heartbreaking, I broke down in school," sophomore Jade Booker told Action News.

PHOTOS: Vigil for student killed at Delaware school

The town hall was organized by Darius Brown.

"This is our clarion call to get factual information out to the community and also for us to give some sense of security and assurance about the climate of the school and us moving forward," Brown said.

Before she went inside, parent Michelle Booker let Action News know what questions she wanted answered.

"How are you going to keep my daughter safe? What are you going to do?" Booker said.

PHOTOS: Community mourns Del. Student

There will also be a meeting for parents at Howard High Tuesday and Wednesday.

Amy Joyner-Francis' wake is scheduled for this Sunday between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at St. Paul AUME Church located at 3114 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19802.