Teachers ignored a five-year-old boy as he lay dying in a schoolyard, thinking he was just playing dead for fun, according to a lawsuit filed by the youngster’s parents.
Romeo Pierre Louis died in April 2022 at Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford, Connecticut, after collapsing with a rare heart condition.
Last week, his grieving parents filed a lawsuit against the school, claiming the youngster might have survived had it not been for their negligence.
School friends of Romeo Pierre Louis tried to warn their teachers at Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford, Connecticut, after the little boy fell to the floor while playing freeze tag.
He appeared motionless, but staff thought the student was simply participating in a game called ‘play dead’, which was allegedly popular among the children there.
Romeo suffered from Brugada syndrome, a condition that can cause an irregular heartbeat. It can be treated in hospital. Romeo’s parents say he could have survived had he been treated quickly, though the school’s lawyers have not yet made a counter-argument about the youngster’s chances of survival after the collapse.
Romeo’s autopsy revealed that the cause of death was cardiac channelopathy Brugada syndrome. The syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening heart condition that affects the heart’s normal electrical function
The parents of a five-year-old boy who died after collapsing on a school playground have filed a lawsuit against the school and its teachers
But that there was a critical nine-minute delay between little Romeo’s collapse and the staff who finally went to check on him.
It was only then that medical attention was called, 911 was called, and an ambulance arrived just over half an hour later.
Earlier this week, the parents, D’Meza Shultz Pierre Louis and Chantel Pierre Louis, filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that the school’s staff simply ignored the situation that happened last April.
The civil lawsuit alleges that three teachers patrolling the playground believed Romeo was just “playing dead” and, as a result, failed to respond quickly enough to his medical emergency.
Five-year-old Romeo Pierre Louis fell to the floor while playing tag in the school yard
Despite his friends alerting teachers, his parents think he was acting and they didn’t react quickly enough
The lawsuit for more than $15,000 in damages holds the city of West Hartford and the West Hartford Board of Education liable for the school staff’s negligence, suggesting that more timely action could have saved the boy’s life, but it’s unclear whether this is the case.
“Romeo was allowed to collapse and lie on the floor for nearly 10 minutes without any assistance or medical treatment – despite several teachers … being nearby,” the complaint states.
“By the time the teachers realized that Romeo was not playing dead and needed emergency medical treatment, it was too late and Romeo’s life could not be saved,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit alleges that if employees followed the city’s own policies and procedures, “Romeo would have received the necessary medical care he needed and survived.”
Surveillance video footage seen by the school shows a teacher approaching Romeo and checking to make sure he’s knocking nearly nine minutes after he fell to the floor.
In an incident report, a teacher told police how “she was approached by students who told her that (Romeo) was acting strange/funny/teasing.”
The report also said: “Officers were told that the child had been found by other children who stated that they initially believed the child was pretending to be asleep. The kids later guessed he wasn’t pretending to be asleep and unconscious.’
The child was then carried from the playground to the nurse’s office where first aid was administered, including CPR and the use of a defibrillator.
About 35 minutes after the initial collapse, an ambulance arrived and took Romeo to Connecticut Children’s Hospital, where he died two days later.
Romeo’s father, D’Meza Shultz Pierre Louis, wept when he said that the Lord’s Prayer was his son’s favorite prayer
Interim Superintendent Andrew Morrow said in a statement Romeo’s death has “deeply affected” the school community
An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was cardiac channelopathy Brugada syndrome.
The syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening heart condition that affects the heart’s normal electrical function.
It leads to abnormal heart rhythms, which can cause sudden cardiac arrest, especially during sleep or at rest.
People with Brugada syndrome may have no symptoms or experience symptoms such as fainting, palpitations, or cardiac arrest, but may be diagnosed after a routine electrocardiogram (ECG) or after experiencing symptoms.
Romeo eventually passed away from heart complications. Some of his classmates and friends noticed his breakdown and asked for help.’ memorial website set up by the parents explains.
“That’s why we stick to the mantra: Listen to our children! We are heartbroken that such a delay in care after his fall ultimately took Romeo’s life.
Romeo tragically collapsed and lay dead in the playground for nine minutes because his parents thought he was playing a game called “playing dead.”
All our children deserve better. As a community, we must work together to fight for their rights to safety, health and care! We must be able to trust the individuals and institutions that raise and care for our children.”
Interim Superintendent Andrew Morrow said Romeo’s death has “deeply affected” the school community.
“The death of a child is a devastating and unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Romeo Pierre Louis,” Morrow said in a statement.
“This tragedy has deeply affected the Charter Oak International Academy community and the school district continues to make grief support and emotional help available to any student or educator in need.”
Earlier this week, a tribute was held by Romeo’s parents, family and friends on the one-year anniversary of his death.
Some carried placards with the little boy’s picture on them, while others held placards that read “Attention” and “Listen to our children.”
“We know that nothing will bring our son back,” said Chantel, Romeo’s mother. “All we can do is keep his memory in our hearts and do what we can so that this doesn’t happen to another child. Listen to our children.’