DA will not file charges in death of 12-year-old Jada West

Now is 2 36. We are following some breaking news out of Douglas County, a news conference just getting underway. We're getting an update on the Jada West case. Let's listen in. Investigated the incident, canvassed the neighborhood, obtained recordings and interviewed witnesses and other individuals that were involved. Our team took their investigation and located and interviewed additional witnesses obtaining school and bus records, GPS records, EMS, medical records and autopsy reports. We're going to go into the timeline of what all of those pieces of evidence show us about what happened on that day. What we know is this bus route that started at the middle school, and I want to reiterate the middle school, we are talking about children here, it left the school at approximately 5:01 p.m. A separate observation documents the bus then going along the route about 5:05 p.m. and that it did in fact stop at those train tracks at 5.17 p.m. The bus stayed there for approximately 2 minutes and 59 seconds and then continued on along the bus route that I previously had up to make it to that bus stop that belonged to Jada and JS, which took about 40 seconds for them to arrive at that location. What we know is that while at those train tracks prior to reaching the first bus stop, bus footage shows the argument broke out between those children. JS was sitting in the back while Jada was sitting towards the middle of the bus. And while they were arguing with each other, they did not know who the other person was. Because of this substantial noise, particularly near the railroad crossing, they had to wait. As the bus approached the neighborhood, the footage further shows multiple students getting off the bus at the bus stop. What we were able to determine through the investigation was that the bus stop was close proximity to where the fight took place. In addition, there was an adult witness who was present on the scene, as well as where Jada West collapsed where JS's home was and where Jada's home was. Both girls were supposed to get off at this bus stop. What we know is that the physical and verbal altercation occurred between 1721 and 1722. We know that at some point, not knowing the exact precise moment, but between 1722 and 1726, Jada collapses on the sidewalk. And JS comes to render aid and care to her during that time. We know that initial report and dispatch was notified at 1727, that we have several calls that come into dispatch, including a student's grandmother. EMS was en route by 1732. By 1733, they had arrived along with the fire department and that EMS makes contact with the patient. At a later time, a bus driver attempts to call the school district in order to report the students that had gotten off the bus and the argument that took place. And we know that EMS had left the scene and arrived at Tanner by 1755 hours. When she arrives at Tanner, she is stabilized, admitted, and by 2200 hours, she is transported to Scottish Rite for medical care. She remained at Scottish Rite up until her death on March 8th at 325 p.m. The altercation that took place unfortunately went viral. many social media platforms and others have picked up the situation that took place between the girls on that day. The investigators review describes nearby students encouraging a fight, JS initially walking away before returning and Jada and JS placing their book bags on the ground before the physical altercation which again lasted only 17 seconds. The recording shows both juveniles falling and the review shows that Jada's head appeared to strike the roadway while JS was on top of her. After separation, the review shows West as unsteady and staggering and an adult woman exiting a white SUV and directing the students to go home. We conducted several interviews to determine what had taken place in conjunction with the Villarrica Police Department. The first interview was with JS herself as to what happened. Again, this is a middle school student. She stated that she had limited prior interaction with Jada and they had had no prior conflicts. She stated that the argument began when she asked the students to quiet down near the railroad crossing and she described other students encouraging the confrontation. After exiting, Jada said she initially walked towards home but returned because Jada continued making comments and expressed concern that West Metal Cup could be used as a weapon and she asked her to put it down before the fight. Jada acknowledged anticipating a fight and that she was not really scared but described an encounter as mutual, stating she was unsure who threw the first punch. She also described the girls falling and continuing to struggle before separating and later reports finding Jada unresponsive running to her side and contacting her mother for help. Next interview was with a bus driver. The bus driver stated that she had been assigned to the route because of some behavior concerns and previously submitted disciplinary. She described the excessive noise near the railroad crossing and difficulty hearing every conversation towards the rear of the bus. At the neighborhood stop she reported hearing two students call out to fight and stated she did not observe a physical altercation before continuing on the route. She also described the procedure for students exiting at an unassigned stop and stated she called the Department of Transportation for the school to report the student's behavior and this was corroborated by her cell phone records. There was a bus driver trainee on scene. She stated that she had been assigned to the route for approximately three days and was unfamiliar with many of the students. She also corroborated substantial noise at the railroad crossing and estimated the bus remained stopped for about four minutes. At the bus stops reported hearing the students call out a fight and according to her account the driver briefly remained after students exited observed students walking in different directions and then continued on the route. She also corroborated they did not see any physical altercation during this event. We spoke to 12 of the 19 students that we were able to identify as on that bus during that day. The student who recorded the altercation described others encouraging the argument and recorded J.S. initially walking away before returning. One student reported gathering Jada's belongings after the fight and stated that Jada later collapsed and J.S. returned to check on her and that she ran to notify Jada's mom. The student interviews also informed the investigation as to whether there was any prior bullying or conflict between the two girls, which we will address in a moment. There were reports of an adult that was on scene. We were able to locate this adult with the help of Villa Rica, and we were able to talk to her about what happened on that day. After briefly looking towards the children inside her vehicle where she stopped at that bus stop to pick up her daughter's friend in order to take her to a school event along with her daughter, she looked back and observed Jada and J.S. approaching each other and engaging in an altercation. She told them both to stop and go home. she left a short time later to take her child and that friend to the activity and she was not present when Jada needed medical care she also stated that when she left the scene that Jada appeared okay after standing before she left we spoke to JS's mother JS's mother registered nurse reported providing medical care when her daughter called her after finding Jada unresponsive she stated she could not locate a pulse and immediately began providing life-saving measures. She stated that she learned afterwards that her daughter was involved and immediately brought her to law enforcement to be interviewed about the incident that day. There was a lot of information about bullying being a motivation in this case. We were made aware and raised concerns of that and these investigators took that very seriously and sought additional information. The school principal confirmed that there were no documented prior instances involving West and JS. They were in different grades and, according to the principal, did not share classes, lunch periods, or school activities. Several students reported limited familiarity with Jada because she recently transferred to the school and was a newer student. The interviews, nor any of the evidence, did not substantiate a history of bullying, ongoing conflict, or prior altercations between Jada and JS. We also reviewed both girls' cell phone records and it revealed no evidence of prior instances of communication between them as well. The medical findings. Jada was receiving care at Scottish Rite up until she passed away. Once she passed away, her body was transported to GBI for a formal autopsy. At that point in time, after her death, there was blood that was extracted from around her heart for further external lab testing. We recently received those test results. According to the GBI medical examiner's office, the blood-heart test revealed that Jada had an underlying genetic heart condition. that led to her unexpected death. While the stress of the verbal argument or the physical fight could have contributed to this condition, there is no way to make a definitive medical determination that this incident led to the condition that ultimately caused Jada's death. The evidence that was reviewed, we believe we had all of the evidence involved in this case. Again, thank you to our Villa Rica Police Department partners for gathering that information as well as the information that was gathered by our investigative team. Neighborhoods were canvassed, bus recordings were reviewed, cell phone videos were collected, cell phone records were reviewed, interviews with the students, those involved, adult witnesses, the bus driver, the trainee, and while witness accounts differed on who initiated and stopped the fight, it also was evaluated along all the recordings and our ability to make our decision. So based on the totality of the evidence and the review of any applicable laws, the Douglas County District Attorney's Office will not be bringing any criminal charges in this case. We recognize that this determination does not ease the pain or the significance of the loss of Jada. We believe that Jada's family and the community deserve to understand the basis for the decision and how the evidence and law informed it, which is what we have done today. Earlier today, we met with Jada's family to share these same findings, as well as JS's family. I would like to take a moment to stress the importance of verified facts. Jada West's death, her family deserves compassion, accurate information, and a respectful explanation of the investigation's findings. This case received substantial national attention on social media before the investigation was complete. Narratives developed and conclusions circulated while significant facts remained unknown. Our investigative team reported multiple threats directed towards J.S.'s family and the adult witnesses involved in this case. The team also reported that these threats led to J.S.'s family relocating from our community. Acknowledging those consequences does not diminish the loss experienced by West's family. Questions and concerns are completely understandable when one of our own children shockingly disappears from us and dies. Members of the public can seek answers while allowing investigators and medical professionals to establish the facts. and without directing threats towards those connected to an incident. We ask the public to distinguish verified information from assumptions before assigning blame or sharing accusations. That care is especially important when children, children, and grieving families are involved. Our obligation is to make decisions grounded in the evidence and the law and to explain those decisions with accuracy and compassion. We are grateful to the Villa Rica Police Department, Douglas County Schools, the students and parents who brought their children to speak with us, and of course to our investigative team for their due diligence in seeking the truth in what happened during this tragic incident. We continue to extend our deepest condolences to West's parents, her family, and everyone who knew and loved Jada. At this time, we will take any questions. The genetic heart condition, was the family aware of that? And so you have been listening into a news conference from the Douglas County District Attorney where she announced that they will not be filing charges in Jada West's death. She was a 12-year-old, and you might remember the Villarica girl died after a fight after getting off her school bus. This was back in March. Now they're taking reporter questions. Our Kevin Stewart is at that news conference. He's going to be asking questions of the D.A. there and bringing us the very latest when he joins us for Fox 5 News at 4, 5, and 6 o'clock. But again, the breaking news, the Douglas County D.A. will not be filing charges in Jada West's death. She's a 12-year-old girl who died back in March after a fight, after getting off of a school bus. It's a story that we have been following, and as you heard the D.A. mention, it's a story a lot of people have been following on social media. So we will get the very latest from Kevin Stewart when he joins us a little bit later on this afternoon.