Unthinkable Horror As California Teachers Stood By While Bullies Brutally Beat Student to Death

Assistant Principal Kamilah O’Connor had assured Diego’s family that his bullies would be suspended after he spoke to her. Photo credit by LinkedIn

According to a recent Fox News report on Thursday, September 14, 2023, the administrators at a California middle school have been identified after failing to protect a student who was brutally beaten by bullies, leading to his death.

13-year-old Diego Stolz died in September 2019 after being punched in the head and slamming his head on a pillar at Landmark Middle School in Moreno Valley.

Diego had complained about bullying in the days prior, but Assistant Principal Kamilah O’Connor did not follow through on suspending the bullies as she had promised his family.

On the Monday after Diego reported the bullying, the same boys attacked and killed him.

O’Connor worked under Principal Scott Walker at Landmark Middle School.

After Diego’s death, both administrators were replaced along with another assistant principal.

The school district settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Diego’s family for $27 million this week, the largest payout ever for a bullying case.

Harrowing video of the attack shows Diego sucker punched from behind and continuing to be beaten as he lay unconscious on the ground.

The two 14-year-old attackers later pleaded guilty to manslaughter but did not receive any jail time.

Instead they were sentenced to probation and anger management therapy.

Diego’s family raised him after the death of his parents.

His aunt Juana Salcedo, his legal guardian, said at the boys’ sentencing that the school failed Diego.

The family’s lawyer Neil Gehlaway agreed, saying “His death was entirely preventable, if administrators at his middle school had done their jobs.”

Gehlaway said the Thursday before Diego’s death, he was assaulted by one of the boys.

The family reported it to O’Connor, who promised the bullies would be suspended.

However, she did not follow through and the boys remained in school. On Monday, they fatally attacked Diego.

The $27 million settlement, believed to be the largest for a bullying case in the U.S. was awarded after the family filed a wrongful death suit alleging the school district failed to act against Diego’s bullies.

As part of the settlement, the district agreed to improve training and protocols around bullying.

Though O’Connor still appears to work for the district, she and Walker were replaced just weeks after Diego’s death.

The superintendent at the time promised change, saying “When you meet with a parent and they say ‘I don’t want my kid to be the next Diego,’ you can say ‘I agree,’ but our actions speak louder than our words.”

The case inspired a 2020 California law clarifying that legal guardians can bring civil suits involving a minor’s wrongful death.

Diego was raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents died.

The family said they hope the case leads to anti-bullying changes nationwide, as Diego’s death was preventable with proper policies.