The parents of a 10-year-old Florida boy who died by suicide last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against their son’s school, alleging he was subjected to relentless bullying and humiliation by his fifth-grade teacher in the months leading up to his death.
According to the lawsuit filed on April 21, 2025, Louis Johnson III fatally shot himself in April 2023 after enduring what his family describes as “sustained and targeted abuse” from his teacher, Donna White, at a public elementary school in Florida.
The suit accuses White of repeatedly calling the child “stupid” in front of classmates, encouraging other students to mock and isolate him, and creating an environment that caused Louis extreme psychological trauma.
His parents allege that they lodged several complaints with school officials about White’s behavior over a three- to four-month period prior to Louis’s death, but no meaningful action was taken to intervene or protect their son.
The complaint states that Louis suffered from “intense emotional and physical distress” including depression, anxiety, nightmares, and suicidal ideation as a result of the abuse.
An internal investigation conducted after Louis’s death reportedly confirmed that White had emotionally abused not only Louis but also other students, some of whom were left with long-term psychological harm.
The school district, whose name has not yet been publicly disclosed due to pending litigation, is being sued for wrongful death, negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision.
“The district had a duty to protect Louis from foreseeable harm, particularly after repeated reports of abuse by a faculty member,” the family’s attorney said in a brief statement. “They failed in that duty, and a 10-year-old child paid the ultimate price.”
A court date has not yet been scheduled.
