One of the teenage students accused of fatally striking a Georgia teacher in a high school student prank gone wrong is speaking out.
Jayden Wallace, 18, and his family shared a new statement with ABC News through their attorney.
Their statement called North Hall High School teacher Jason Hughes a mentor and positive influence on Jayden Wallace and that Wallace plans to live out the rest of his life in a way that honors Hughes, who was a father of two.
“Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family: ‘I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten,'” the statement said, adding that Hughes “meant the world” to Wallace and they’re “grieving over [the] tremendous loss.”
Hall County Sheriff’s Office – PHOTO: Student Jayden Wallace, 18, and his family have released a statement following the death of teacher Jason Hughes.
According to authorities in Gainesville, Georgia, Wallace and four other teenage students, who are all also 18, went to Hughes’ house last Friday to roll toilet paper on his trees.
The Hughes family previously told ABC News that Hughes, 40, “knew” about the prank and was “excited” to catch the students in the act.
Courtesy the Hughes Family – PHOTO: Teacher and coach Jason Hughes, seen here in this undated photo, died amid a high school student prank gone wrong.
But at some point, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said Hughes tripped and fell into the roadway while Wallace and the students were attempting to flee in two vehicles and Wallace ran Hughes over while driving one of the vehicles.
Although the students tried to render aid to Hughes, he later died at a hospital.
Wallace is charged with vehicular homicide and he and the other four students are also facing charges for criminal trespassing.
The Hughes family is adamant the incident was a tragic accident and fully support dropping the charges against the teenage students.
District attorney Lee Darragh told ABC News he is reviewing the case and will give “great deference” to the Hughes family’s wishes.
All five students have since been released on bond.
Wallace is scheduled for a court appearance on April 1 but Darragh said he expects to make a decision before the hearing.
This week, crisis teams and therapy dogs were brought in to North Hall High School to help students and provide comfort for the community. Students also remembered Hughes as a devoted father, admired teacher and compassionate coach.
News
Daughter’s Counterclaim: The Bahamas husband has gone public with his final proof, but Lynette’s daughter says her evidence is even more h0rrifying
A photo of Lynette Hooker, who is reportedly missing at sea. From Lynette Hooker/Facebook Police in Bahamas have arrested the husband of a missing American woman days after he told investigators she fell overboard from their dinghy in rough waters, his attorney said. Royal Bahamas Police said Wednesday an American man had been taken into […]
5 Minutes Before: The final video the missing Bahamas woman posted with her husband is now going viral, and what he was holding has stunned viewers
The daughter of missing American woman Lynette Hooker didn’t hear about her mom disappearing at sea until around 24 hours later when her stepdad called her, according to a report. Brian Hooker, 58, delivered the shocking news to Lynette’s adult child Karli Aylesworth in a phone call Sunday as mystery surrounds the tragic case that […]
Last Clip: Just minutes before the sea tragedy, the missing woman’s final post with her husband captured one disturbing object in his hand
The daughter of missing American woman Lynette Hooker didn’t hear about her mom disappearing at sea until around 24 hours later when her stepdad called her, according to a report. Brian Hooker, 58, delivered the shocking news to Lynette’s adult child Karli Aylesworth in a phone call Sunday as mystery surrounds the tragic case that […]
6-Minute Reveal: Lynette Hooker’s daughter is speaking out with explosive accusations about her stepfather in a video that changes everything
the_sailing_hookers/Instagram A woman whose mother vanished at sea claims her husband had made threats to throw her overboard. Karli Aylesworth thinks something “just doesn’t add up” about the disappearance of her mom, Lynette Hooker, while she was out on the water in the Bahamas on Saturday night. She had already demanded a “full and complete […]
No More Silence: The daughter of the Michigan woman missing at sea has made sh0cking claims about her stepfather, all laid out in a 6-minute video
the_sailing_hookers/Instagram A woman whose mother vanished at sea claims her husband had made threats to throw her overboard. Karli Aylesworth thinks something “just doesn’t add up” about the disappearance of her mom, Lynette Hooker, while she was out on the water in the Bahamas on Saturday night. She had already demanded a “full and complete […]
Hidden Video: Lynette Hooker’s daughter is accusing her stepfather of ch0king her mother to d3ath, and she has now released a secretly recorded clip
The husband of missing American boater Lynette Hooker said he was “heartbroken” over her tragic disappearance at sea hours after his stepdaughter claimed he had a darker side. Brian Hooker broke his silence in a Facebook post on Wednesday, four days after Lynette fell out of a small boat in the Bahamas while the couple […]
End of content
No more pages to load
