After high school teacher Jason Hughes was tragically killed in a prom prank gone wrong, his family is hoping to be “given great deference” in the district attorney’s decision to charge the five teens involved.
The Georgia district attorney overseeing the case confirmed that he will be meeting with Hughes’ family to discuss the case.
“The case is under my personal review. Though we’ve spoken over the phone, I’ll be meeting with the family of Jason Hughes in person early next week,” Hall County District Attorney Lee Darraugh said in an email to People on Wednesday, March 11.
He continued, “The family’s wishes in this case will be given great deference and consideration.”
Hughes, 40, was allegedly struck outside of his home in Gainesville, Georgia, by a truck driven by his student Jayden Wallace on Friday, March 6.
Wallace, 18, was at the teacher’s home with four other students to toilet paper Hughes’ home and trees as part of an annual school prank.
Hughes ran out of his home and tripped, which caused him to fall in front of the vehicle that Wallace was driving. Wallace then ran over Hughes and he suffered serious injuries.
The five teens did stop to try to help Hughes, though Hughes ultimately died from his injuries.
Following the incident, Wallace was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Meanwhile, Elijah Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Luque and Ariana Cruz were all charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespassing and littering.
Hughes’ widow, Laura Hughes, has since said she would like the charges against the teens to be dropped.
Laura, who is also a teacher, told The New York Times that her husband “was excited” for the prank and “was waiting to catch them in the act.”
She added that her family “supports getting the charges dropped for all involved.”
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Laura said. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Meanwhile, Wallace and his parents broke their silence about the tragedy in a statement to 11Alive on Tuesday, March 10.
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“We are a family in deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community. Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden,” the family said. “He took 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.”
Wallace also issued his own separate comment in the statement. “I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten,” he said.
The teen is facing up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted.
Hughes was a popular teacher at the high school, and one of his former students shared insight into who he was while speaking to Us Weekly.
Sheyden Maynor, who graduated from North Hall High School in 2019, said that Hughes always looked forward to the prank war each year.
“Coach Hughes always got excited about this time of year,” Maynor, 22, said. “He thought it was fun.”
