St. Louis, Missouri – The Missouri Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, has launched an investigation into a school district in Missouri where a teenage girl was brutally attacked by another student. Bailey revealed that the Hazelwood School District is refusing to cooperate with the investigation, raising concerns about their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and their impact on school safety.
Bailey expressed the need for Hazelwood to provide an explanation to parents and the community regarding the role of these programs and safety failures in the violent attack. The Attorney General emphasized that this investigation is focused on uncovering the truth behind the incident.
In response to Bailey’s investigation, the Hazelwood School District spokesperson refuted the allegations, claiming inaccuracies in the investigation. The district’s attorney, Cindy Reeds Ownsby, criticized Bailey for what she perceived as disrespectful and error-filled correspondence aimed at intimidating school officials.
Ownsby clarified that the altercation involving the teenage girl did not take place during regular school hours but after school, away from the school premises. She questioned Bailey’s assumptions about the incident, highlighting other fights in the area that did not receive similar attention or scrutiny.
Bailey, in turn, defended his investigation, stating that he followed proper procedures by citing Chapter 610, which requires public bodies to provide requested records or explain the reason for non-disclosure. The Attorney General emphasized the importance of uncovering the facts surrounding the incident, regardless of the timing or location of the altercation.
The exchange between Bailey and Ownsby continued, with each party challenging the other’s assertions and motives. Bailey remained firm in his commitment to investigating the school district’s actions under Missouri’s Human Rights Act, ensuring that residents are free from discrimination and have access to public accommodations.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on seeking justice for the victim and holding the school district accountable for their actions. Updates on the investigation and the victim’s recovery will provide further insights into the aftermath of this tragic incident.