MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA: Scott Walker, former principal of Landmark Middle School of Moreno Valley that failed to protect 13-year-old student Diego Stolz, was replaced in late October 2019, a-month-and-a-half after the fatal attack.
On September 16, 2019, Stolz, a seventh grader, was viciously attacked by at least two 14-year-olds which caused the boy to hit a concrete pillar, causing him to sustain a brain injury.
He died nine days after the fatal assault, per Fox 11.
Four days before the assault, Stolz reportedly brought it to the notice of the school authorities, with Vice-Principal Kamilah O’Connor promising to suspend the bullies.
However, when Stolz returned to school on September 16, with O’Connor failing to keep her promise, the bullies were freely roaming in the school. It gave them free rein to pick on Stolz, ultimately causing his death.
Since the school authorities failed to save the boy, they were replaced by another principal and two assistant principals.
Rafael Garcia became the school’s principal after Walker's departure.
In place of Kamilah O’Connor and another vice-principal, Iesha Smith and Stephanie Williams-Mayrant took charge as the school’s assistant principals, per Fox 11.
However, O'Connor is still working with the school district.
What happened to Diego Stolz's bullies?
Per CNN, the two teenagers, only identified as JD and ME, admitted to charges of involuntary manslaughter.
The two spent 47 days in juvenile custody and were sentenced to probation in 2021. Later, they were released to their parents.
The school district was ordered to pay $27M to Stolz's legal guardians in what was deemed to be “the largest bullying settlement in the United States,” as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the boy's family in 2020.
The family's attorney Dave Ring reportedly said, “The family will forever be heartbroken by the death of Diego but they hope this case brings about change in school districts across the country.”
Ring continued, “Schools need to realize that bullying can never be tolerated and that any complaints of bullying and assault must be taken seriously."
Ring added, "Diego’s death was preventable if this school had simply prioritized an anti-bullying policy.”
Another attorney, Neil Gehlawat, said, “This lawsuit has put schools on notice to find ways to effectively deal with bullying and to enact real anti-bullying policies.”
“Although his family’s grief can never be taken away, we believe real change will come, and there will be a renewed focus on anti-bullying programs across the nation,” added Gehlawat.
Even the school district’s lawyer, Michael Marlatt, admitted the settlement was a “fair and reasonable amount,” adding, “We recognized that this was tragic case with challenging legal issues.”
He continued, “Given the reality of the facts of the case and recent trend of jury verdicts, it made sense to have a resolution in the amount of $27 million.”
What was there in the lawsuit filed by Dieo Stolz’s family?
Per the lawsuit, Stolz’s family claimed that while the school authorities were informed before about the victim being bullied, they “completely disregarded such warnings and did absolutely nothing to stop the bullying.”
They continued by accusing the Moreno Valley Unified School District and its employees of “blatantly ignoring red flags that could have saved Diego’s life.”
