IMG SOURCE: nypost.com
In an alarming turn of events, the family of the teenage girl charged with the brutal assault of 16-year-old Kaylee Gain claims their kin is the genuine victim. They assert she was subject to persistent bullying before the shocking incident, which was caught on video and widely shared online.
The accused is a 15-year-old girl, who, until recently, was known as an honor student with outstanding academic and athletic records at Hazelwood East High School. The incident took place on March 8 in Spanish Lakes, Missouri.
In an appeal for compassion from the juvenile court system, the family of the alleged assailant has launched a fundraiser, hoping to raise $150,000 to cover her legal defense costs. They have also initiated a petition on Change.org, urging Chief Juvenile Officer Rick Gaines of the 21st Circuit Court not to charge the teenager as an adult.
The petition delineates the young girl’s impressive academic and athletic feats. She is fluent in four languages, plays the violin in the school orchestra, represents her school in volleyball, and had recently been selected for Advanced Placement (AP) classes at the college level.
On the fateful day of March 8, the accused was allegedly defending herself from harassment and bullying. Her family contends that this single event, now defining her character, is unjust, particularly considering her solid academic and behavioral records.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey had suggested that the teenager should be charged as an adult if Gain does not survive. The family strongly disagrees with this stance and insists on considering the entire context of the incident.
The online petition garnered considerable support, with over 500 signatures as of Thursday afternoon. However, a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the family to aid with legal expenses was promptly removed by the platform for violating its terms of service.
Following the incident, the family of the accused has reportedly received multiple racist death threats and has encountered attempts of doxxing – the unauthorized release of personal information about the teenager.
The gruesome video of the fight shows Gain being repeatedly punched and her head slammed against the pavement, resulting in a life-threatening skull fracture. As of the last update, Gain has not regained consciousness, suffering from brain swelling and bleeding.
In their plea for understanding and mercy, the family insists that the focus should be on healing and reconciliation for both parties. They believe that this incident, a teenage fight that spiraled out of control, should never have occurred in the first place.
