ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The parents of Kaylee Gain, the 16-year-old girl who was critically injured in a fight near Hazelwood East High School, released a statement through an attorney saying that Gain still hasn't regained consciousness more than a week after the fight.
The statement, released by attorney Bryan Kaemmerer Monday afternoon, said the family is remaining by Gain's side at an area hospital. The statement said Gain suffered a fractured skull that resulted in brain bleeding and swelling, but they will not know the severity of the injuries until she regains consciousness.
Gain, a Hazelwood East High School student, was critically injured and hospitalized following a fight that unfolded on March 8 at the intersection of Norgate and Claudine drives near campus, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.
A viral video shows a girl slam Gain's head into the ground over and over again.
The department said on March 9, a 15-year-old suspect was arrested and is currently being held by St. Louis County Family Court on assault charges. The identity of the suspect will not be disclosed because they are a minor.
John O'Sullivan with the St. Louis County Courts said it is too soon to know if the suspect will be charged as an adult. There will be a court hearing in the next few weeks.
In the statement, Gain's parents called on the community to come together to prevent future incidents like this one.
"Kaylee's parents want to make a special request to their fellow parents in the community to ask them to reinforce to their children that physical violence and bullying are never appropriate, and to emphasize to their children that lives of both the perpetrators of teen violence and the victims of violence can be permanently and forever changed as a result of violent incidents that last only a few minutes," the statement said.
The statement also thanked people who donated to the two GoFundMe pages set up to help the family cover the ongoing medical costs. The two pages have raised a combined $360,000 as of Monday afternoon.
Gregory Smith, the attorney for the suspect, said also released a statement Monday. In the statement, he said his 15-year-old client is a Hazelwood East School District student who was on the honor roll, played in the orchestra and on the school’s volleyball team.
"I believe all of the facts and circumstances of this incident are not appropriate to discuss at this time when another child is in such a critical condition," Smith wrote. "Those facts and circumstances will have their day in court. I join the call to denounce teen violence and bullying. And most importantly, I join my client and her family in extending our prayers for this family and their child.”
Click the links below to visit the GoFundMe pages for Gain.