Charges dropped against students after beloved teacher killed in prank gone wrong, attorney says
ATLANTA (ANF/Gray News) — All charges have been dropped against the five Georgia high school students involved in a prank gone wrong that left a beloved teacher dead.
Graham McKinnon, the attorney for Jayden Wallace’s family, said Friday that the Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges against him and the other four students involved.
Wallace, 18, was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass and littering on private property.
The other four students involved — Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz, all 18 — were charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials confirmed 40-year-old Jason Hughes, a math teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School, was killed March 6.
The five students went to Hughes’ house late that night to pull off an apparent prank by throwing toilet paper on his trees.
Around 11 p.m., Hughes came out of his house to confront the group of teens, who got into cars and began driving away. Hughes tripped and fell before being run over by one of the fleeing vehicles. Wallace was the driver.
After the tragedy, Hughes’ wife said she wanted all charges dropped against the students, adding that this was a “terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students.”
She also said that “this would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
After the charges were dropped, McKinnon said Wallace and his friends were “participating in a competitive game outside the home of their beloved teacher as part of a longtime junior-senior tradition at North Hall High School.”
“As he was leaving the home, Jayden never saw Mr. Hughes, and Jayden’s vehicle had only traveled a few feet when the accident occurred. Vehicular homicide charges were not warranted because Jayden never operated his truck in a dangerous, improper, or unsafe manner. In the end, there was no crime — only an extremely sad and devastating accident,” McKinnon said. “Jayden is still grieving deeply but is determined to move forward eventually to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud.”
In a statement, Wallace’s parents said Hughes “meant the world” to their son.
“He [Hughes] took the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact,” the family said in a statement.
Wallace himself added, “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.”
An online fundraiser for the Hughes family raised nearly $490,000 before donations were paused.
The organizer wrote, “Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come. Please use this opportunity to come alongside them in their time of immediate need and future planning for his children.”
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