PALM BAY, Fla. — One week after 5-year-old Bellamy Dawkins-Morris was killed by a falling classroom display board, his family has retained attorneys to investigate what happened and determine who may be responsible.
The incident happened Oct. 7 at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay. A 120-pound Promethean interactive display came off the wall and fell on Bellamy.
“The biggest question is, how did this happen?” attorney Maegan Bridwell said. “How did an interactive piece of technology injure and kill a student? How did it come off the wall? How was it allowed to come off the wall? Why did this happen?”
Bellamy’s family retained Bridwell and Michael Haggard of The Haggard Law Firm. Bridwell said the firm is conducting an independent investigation into the design, installation and maintenance of the display.
“Our job now that we’ve been retained by the family is to identify anyone who was responsible for not only the design, but the installation and the maintenance of this heavy, heavy equipment installed in our classrooms,” Bridwell said.
Bellamy had autism and was making developmental progress, according to his family. Family members previously told Channel 9 that he had been moving the display before it fell.
Teachers and staff provided aid and called 911. Bellamy was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
“The family is devastated,” Bridwell said. “I don’t think, unless you’re a parent who’s lost a child, you can understand this unfathomable loss they’ve endured as a family.”
Brevard Public Schools began inspecting mounted display boards across its campuses following Bellamy’s death.
Superintendent Mark Rendell previously expressed condolences to Bellamy’s family, and Palm Bay police opened an investigation.
In a statement to Channel 9, Promethean extended its condolences to Bellamy’s family and the Riviera Elementary School community. The company said it contacted Brevard Public Schools and Palm Bay police to offer its cooperation and technical assistance.
Promethean said it has not received details about the specific display, stand, mount or installation involved and would not speculate while the investigations continue.
Channel 9 also contacted the school district and Palm Bay police for updates Wednesday but had not received responses as of publication.
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