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Amy Inita Joyner-Francis
ABC 7 Screenshot
Three Delaware teens have been charged in the fatal assault of 16-year-old Amy Inita Joyner-Francis who died after a fight in the bathroom of her Wilmington high school.
Prosecutors filed third-degree criminal conspiracy charges against Zion Snow and Chakeira Wright and criminally negligent homicide charges against Trinity Carr, 16, The Delaware News Journal reports.
The state Attorney General’s Office is pushing to have Carr charged as an adult as she is the only girl who reportedly struck Joyner-Francis. Snow and Wright are expected to be tried in family court, as neither have prior offenses, “and because they did not physically assault Amy,” Department of Justice officials said, the newspaper reports.
According to the News Journal, the April 21 incident occurred after an argument with all three girls in a bathroom inside the Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington. Carr was the only one that allegedly hit Joyner-Francis but the fight didn’t directly cause Joyner-Francis’ death.
“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,” D.O.J. officials said, the News Journal reports.
Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams called Joyner-Francis’ death a tragedy.
“From the beginning, the Wilmington Police Department and the Department of Justice worked hand-and-hand to determine the appropriate charges,” Williams said, the News Journal reports. “This is just the first step toward providing Amy’s family and our community with closure. I ask that we keep the family and loved ones of everyone involved in our thoughts and prayers.”
If convicted Carr could face up to eight years in prison, Snow and Wright could face up to a year if found guilty.
Read more at The Delaware News Journal.
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