Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey declared Sunday the girl who allegedly inflicted a severe head injury on another girl in a St. Louis fight should be charged and tried as an adult.
Bailey vowed to do everything possible to ensure the alleged assailant is held responsible.
This evil and complete disregard for human life has no place in Missouri, or anywhere,” Bailey posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I am praying for the victim.”
Video reviewed by The National Desk showed a girl throwing another girl, identified later as "Kailee," to the ground before punching and slamming her head against the pavement several times. Kailee was seen shaking on the ground moments after the trauma.
** CONTENT WARNING: THE VIDEO BELOW IS GRAPHIC. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED **
Police later arrested a 15-year-old for assault, a charge Bailey asserted should rise to a homicide if Kailee dies. Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe echoed the attorney general’s push for accountability.
This culture of complete disregard for human life is unacceptable, and it does not represent who we are as Missourians,” Lt. Gov. Kehoe stated. “All involved must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The suspect is being held in St. Louis County Family Court. Missouri congressional candidate and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell lamented his office’s inability to prosecute her.
“This is sickening & so difficult to watch,” Bell wrote on X. “In MO, by law our office [St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney] has no jurisdiction. This is a juvenile court matter, unless it is certified ... & by law, certification is not our decision either. We pray the victim makes a full recovery. This is just heartbreaking.”
The fight occurred next to Hazelwood East High School. The school district expressed sorrow for the incident.
It is a tragedy anytime children are hurt,” the district stated. “Bullying and fighting in the community is an issue for which we all need to take ownership and work towards a resolution for the sake of our children.”
Missouri law allows courts to try children aged 12-18 as adults if their offenses would be considered felonious had it been committed by an adult. First and second-degree murder classify as Class A felonies in Missouri.
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