St. Louis, Missouri – A teenage girl who suffered a serious brain injury in a violent altercation outside a St. Louis high school is now recovering enough to leave the hospital’s intensive care unit, according to her family’s lawyer. Kaylee Gain, a 16-year-old student at Hazelwood East High School, has been hospitalized since March 8 when she was thrown to the ground and had her head repeatedly hit against the concrete by another student. The disturbing incident, which was recorded and widely shared on social media, left Gain with a fractured skull resulting in brain bleeding and swelling.
After being unconscious for several days, Gain recently regained consciousness and can now engage in limited verbal conversations. She has also started speech therapy and has taken a few short walks with the assistance of hospital staff, as she is still unable to walk on her own. Unfortunately, she has no recollection of the fight that led to her hospitalization.
The alleged assailant, 15-year-old Maurnice DeClue, has been arrested in connection to the brutal beating. Gain’s parents are advocating for DeClue to be tried as an adult, believing it to be the most appropriate way to provide justice for their daughter. Meanwhile, the DeClue family has spoken out and shared a statement to address misconceptions about Maurnice’s character, emphasizing her academic achievements and involvement in extracurricular activities.
It has been revealed that Gain was involved in a separate fight with another teenager the day before the incident with DeClue. Both girls were suspended following that altercation, although it remains unclear if there is any connection between the two fights.
In light of the extensive medical expenses and ongoing recovery, two separate GoFundMe accounts have been set up to support Gain. The fundraising efforts have already received upwards of $445,000 in donations towards covering her medical bills.
The circumstances surrounding Gain’s assault have sparked outrage and raised concerns about school safety. The incident, captured on video, depicts other teenagers continuing to fight while Gain lay unconscious in the street until emergency medical technicians arrived on the scene. This incident highlights the need for increased measures to prevent violence and ensure the well-being of students in schools across the country.