A tragedy unfolded in a Florida elementary school classroom when a large video display board fell on a 5-year-old student.
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The Student's Family Has Questions
As PEOPLE reports, the incident took place at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay just before 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Promethean interactive display weighed 120 pounds.
The school's staff called 911 and began administering first aid. First responders took over when they arrived on the scene, according to Deputy Chief Nick Szczepanski of the Palm Bay Police Department. He spoke about the incident at a news conference later that day. The student was then taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
"On the surface, this appears to be a tragic accident," said Szczepanski. "However, our investigators from the special victims unit, major case unit and our crime scene personnel are actively investigating."
The student's family identified him as Bellamy Dawkins-Morris. Family members told reporters that he had autism and was moving the display before it fell. They questioned whether the board was properly secured and whether he was being adequately supervised.
"We're expecting him to be safe. He didn't return to us," Bellamy's great-aunt Miriam Rodriguez told reporters. "My emotions, my sadness has subsided, and I am angry. We need answers, and we need them immediately."
How Did the Video Display Fall? The Family Wants To Know
WFTV reports that the family of Dawkins-Morris has retained attorneys to investigate why the board fell on their son.
"The biggest question is, how did this happen?" attorney Maegan Bridwell told reporters. "How did an interactive piece of technology injure and kill a student? How did it come off the wall?"
She added, "How was it allowed to come off the wall? Why did this happen?"
Promethean extended its condolences to the Dawkins-Morris family and the Riviera Elementary School in a statement. The company said it has offered assistance to Brevard Public Schools and police. It also noted it has not received details about the specific display, stand, mount, or installation and would not speculate as the investigation continues.
