The parents of the Washington, D.C., high school athlete who died by suicide have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his private school.
16-year-old Charlie Schnell took his own life in March 2022 after facing extreme bullying and threats of violence after a classmate accused him of drawing a racist drawing, according to his parents, Dawn and Scott Schnell.
The heartbroken parents say their only son was never given the chance to respond to the allegations.
Charlie also faced disciplinary action for a separate incident and was given the choice of withdrawing or being expelled without an appeal at the Landon School in Bethesda.
He died 13 days later after choosing to withdraw from the boys’ school.
Charlie Schnell, 16, took his own life in March 2022 after facing extreme bullying and threats of violence after a classmate accused him of drawing a racist drawing, according to his parents Dawn and Scott Schnell
On January 4, the parents revealed that they had filed a lawsuit against the school in hopes of holding them accountable and asked their son’s friends to release any information about Charlie.
On January 4, the parents revealed that they had filed a lawsuit against the school in hopes of holding them accountable and requested that their son’s friends release any information they may have about Charlie. Instagram.
“Our lawsuit focuses on Landon’s duty to protect all of his students, including Charlie.
“You all know how much Charlie loves his friends, and that he would want his death to lead to protection for you and other children in the future,” the message said.
According to the WashingtonPostthe Schnells’ attorneys wrote in court filings: “Suicide was the foreseeable consequence of Defendants’ egregious failure to protect him from harm and warn his parents of such harm.”
The parents also said another student had threatened a mass shooting and Charlie wrote a diary entry saying he was worried – which they found months after his death.
They claim his English teacher read the message but never informed them or the school that Charlie was struggling.
The parents also said another student had threatened a mass shooting and Charlie wrote a diary entry saying he was worried – which they found months after his death.
‘Every day I wake up and he dies again. There isn’t a day that we don’t think of him, that I don’t think of him. If I could do one thing over in my life, it wouldn’t be sending him there,” said Scott (pictured left).
Court documents also say the high school student drew a violent image targeting black people and showed it to a black classmate.
No copy or description of the image is included with the pieces.
“Landon failed Charlie so many times in the second year. The second year was hell.
“Our biggest mistake was sending Charlie to Landon,” Dawn Schnell said NBC.
‘Every day I wake up and he dies again. There isn’t a day that we don’t think of him, that I don’t think of him.
“If I could do one thing over in my life, it wouldn’t send him there,” Scott added.
Court documents also say the high school student drew a violent image targeting black people and showed it to a black classmate.
The Landon School has denied all such allegations and issued its own statement
But the Landon School has denied all such allegations and issued its own statement.
“At Landon, we have no higher duty than supporting the well-being of our boys, a role we take very seriously. We continue to feel nothing but sympathy for the grief this family is experiencing over the devastating loss of their son.
“And while we strongly disagree with the claims and characterizations made in their lawsuit, we will continue to navigate this situation with respect, compassion and sensitivity,” a school spokesperson said.
Landon also claimed in the lawsuit that Charlie shouted the homophobic term while with a group of students.
Later, he and another student also exchanged words, which led to an argument.
The Landon School is a private school in Bethesda for boys in grades three through twelve.