A STUDENT accused of killing high school teacher Jason Hughes in a botched toilet roll prank has broken his silence.
Jayden Wallace, 18, has been charged with vehicular homicide after Hughes was as the pranksters drove away.
Jayden Wallace, 18, was arrested after the death of his teacher, Jason HughesCredit: Fox5
Math teacher Jason Hughes, pictured with his wife, Laura Hughes, was killed in a prank gone wrong last Thursday night in Gainesville, GeorgiaCredit: Facebook
“I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ,” the teen vowed in a statement, per the New York Post .
“He will never be forgotten.”
Hughes taught math and helped coach golf, football and baseball at North Hall High School in Gainesville, about 55 miles (88 km) northeast of Atlanta.
He died from his injuries last Friday at Gainesville’s Northeast Georgia Medical Center after police said a .
Wallace has since been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, a felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison under Georgia law.
He has also been charged with reckless driving, a misdemeanor.
The teen’s family has now released a statement on his behalf, reported NBC-affiliated 11Alive .
“Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family,” they said.
The beloved teacher, 40, had “meant the world” to the teen.
Wallace’s family said they remained in “deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community.”
Hughes had taken “the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact.
“Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.”
Students and Hughes’ s fellow teachers left a makeshift memorial of flowers along a section of fence outside the schoolCredit: AP
Nearly $500,000 has now been raised to support the family of Jason Hughes, to help with ‘immediate expenses and a future college fund for his children’Credit: Gofundme
Four other teens have been charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespassing and littering on private property, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said.
The group of teenagers had unspooled rolls of toilet paper outside Hughes’s home during a prank that misfired.
Hughes’s family said he knew and loved the five students involved, and have urged authorities to drop all charges against them.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Hughes’s family said in a statement.
“This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Hughes is survived by his wife, Laura, and their two young sons.
One of the teacher’s neighbors, Ty Talley, said the toilet paper prank was part of tradition in which North Hall students play practical jokes on teachers during prom season.
“It was nothing malicious, Talley added.
“It was just a prank that kids play on their teachers and each other. I did it as a kid.”
The teenager allegedly hit Hughes with his pickup truckCredit: Instagram/Kristin Wallace
Sean Pender, the school’s football coach, praised Hughes for helping players with their academics.
He was also described as a man of deep faith who led a weekly Bible study for fellow coaches.
“What made Jason so special was the way he did it,” Pender wrote on social media.
Hughes “never judged or forced anything on anyone,” the coach added.
“He simply loved people well. He met people where they were, lifted them up, and reminded them that they mattered.”
Wallace’s case has not as yet appeared in online court records.
Decisions on whether or how to prosecute the teens ultimately lie with Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh.
He has this week confirmed that he will consult Hughes’s family “in person” and “review the evidence.”
Darragh also told reporters he was aware that the teacher’s family had requested all charges be dropped.
Math teacher Jason Hughes killed in a toilet roll prank gone wrong
Jason Hughes, 40, died after being taken to a hospital
The math teacher died from his injuries last Friday at Gainesville’s Northeast Georgia Medical Center after police said a student prank went horribly wrong.
Hughes taught math and helped coach golf, football and baseball at North Hall High School in Gainesville.
A group of teenagers pulled up in two vehicles outside his home and began wrapping his trees with toilet paper, according to the sheriff’s office.
The students then started to leave when Hughes started to approach them.
As one of the teens began to drive away in a pickup truck, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over, the sheriff’s office said.
After Hughes was struck, the teens stopped and tried to render aid until emergency responders arrived.
Hughes’s family said he wasn’t trying to confront the teens, but rather had heard in advance about their prank and hoped to surprise them.
The day before Hughes’s death, the Hall County school system posted a message urging students to refrain from any .
The school alluded to so-called “junior/senior wars” during prom season.
It said botched pranks could result in property damage or destruction.
School bosses also warned of “serious consequences that can arise from engaging in destructive behavior.”
Pranks which ended in disaster could “lead to criminal charges.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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