A Massachusetts faculty employees member died after a 14-year-old scholar kicked her within the chest whereas she tried to cease the coed from leaving the constructing with out permission.
Amy Morrell, 53, was assaulted by the teenage woman on Wednesday at round 6:55 p.m. contained in the dorms of Meadowridge Academy — a residential therapeutic faculty for youth and younger adults in Swansea, NBC Boston reported, citing fees introduced by the Bristol County District Legal professional’s Workplace.
Morrell and one other employees member tried to cease the juvenile from leaving the dorms when the confrontation escalated into violence.
Whereas they tried restraining the woman, Morrell was kicked within the chest and collapsed to the bottom, prosecutors mentioned.
The 53-year-old Rhode Island native was taken to a close-by hospital, the place she had been admitted in important situation. She was pronounced useless the next afternoon, the outlet reported.
A reason for demise has not but been decided.
The scholar — whose title has not been launched — was charged with assault and battery, inflicting severe bodily damage in Fall River Juvenile Courtroom on Thursday, prosecutors mentioned.
The investigation stays energetic and ongoing.
Meadowridge Academy — a residential care faculty for youth going through psychological well being and behavioral challenges about 50 miles outdoors Boston — mentioned it’s “deeply saddened” by Morrell’s demise.
“The Meadowridge Academy group is deeply saddened by the passing of direct care employees member, Amy Morrell. We prolong our heartfelt condolences to Amy’s household throughout this troublesome time,” a spokesperson for the college advised NBC Boston.
“Assist providers and sources can be found to help college students and employees as we grieve this tragic loss.”
The varsity supplies complete look after younger adults — ages 12 to 21 — coping with psychological well being, behavioral, and trauma-related difficulties, in line with its web site. It operates beneath the Justice Useful resource Institute, which oversees greater than a dozen faculties and academic applications.
An in depth household good friend who grew up with Morrell and regarded her a relative mentioned he was left in shock when he discovered of the tragedy.
“It by no means crossed my thoughts. By no means considered it. I couldn’t consider it once I bought the decision at the moment,” Andrew Ferruche advised WCVB.
The shut good friend known as it a “tragic state of affairs” throughout.
“You get in a battle, you don’t assume you’re going to hit any person and so they’re going to die proper there – particularly in case you’re a child,” he mentioned.
“That youngster’s life might be ruined. Her life is gone. It’s only a tragic state of affairs.”
He added that Morrell liked her job and located objective in her work on the faculty.
Tina Lombardi, one other good friend, described Morrell as “an important mom, grandmother, and above all, an important good friend” in a touching Fb publish.
“I like you and might’t consider your life has been reduce quick. You’ll all the time be an enormous a part of my life,” Lombardi wrote.
