The mother of a South Carolina fifth-grader who died last month after a fight at her elementary school said she warned school officials about the girl who ultimately killed her daughter.
Airing Monday, Ashley Wright told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that friends of Raniya Wright, 10, claimed a bully had goaded her daughter to fight all day before slamming her head into a bookshelf. The Forest Hills Elementary School girl died two days after the March 25 altercation.
Citing investigators, Greenville News reported that Raniya was rushed to the hospital after she lost consciousness in the principal’s office following the fight. The grieving mother said her daughter had no prior health issues. According to CNN, school officials had said no weapons were used in the fight.
“They were in the class,” the mother said. “The girl came up behind her and was hitting her all in the head. How long, I don’t know. She pushed her or rammed her head or something into the bookshelf.”
Ashley claimed she previously spoke with Raniya’s teacher about the ongoing issues between her daughter and this particular girl. She said Raniya had mentioned having “problems” with this girl since at least the previous school year.
The mother also alleged that Raniya had asked to stay home from school in the weeks leading up to her death. She recalled how her daughter claimed the girl was bullying her about her nose and hair.
“My momma said that she did not want to go to school. She told me later on that day, when I was on lunch before the school called, that she didn’t want to go to school. And the last couple of weeks she’s been feeling like that. When I say, ‘You got a half a day tomorrow.’ She’ll be like, ‘Yes, can I just stay home?’ She did not want to go to school these last couple of weeks. … I felt like the situation at school was getting worse.”
The late 10-year-old’s mother expressed frustration with the entire school system, accusing her daughter’s teacher of never speaking with Raniya about the alleged bullying and claiming that officials haven’t provided any updates about their ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the Colleton County School District told ABC News that they plan to release a full report once law enforcement completes their investigation.
“I’m very upset with the school system, starting out, only because of the fact that I’ve been complaining about the person that she fought numerous times to them,” she said. “That’s what really breaks me down and makes me question to myself why nothing was never done up until now with this happening.
“I’m thinking they got it handled, and they failed me.”
[Featured image: Raniya Wright/Handout]
