Delaware teen Amy Inita Joyner-Francis, 16, died after being jumped by girls in her high school bathroom. The Root reports, a fight between Joyner-Francis and another girl led to more girls jumping in and attacking her. Howard High School of Technology Principal, Dr. Stanley Spoor, says the incident started just after 8:15 am Thursday morning. Joyner-Francis served as captain of the school wrestling team.
Joyner-Francis Should Be Alive
Friends of the late teen say she deplored fighting and was focused on wrestling and her grades. Police report the altercation may have started over a boy. CPR was performed on Joyner-Francis, who was airlifted to a local Wilmington hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Girl-On-Girl Violence Is On The Rise
This unfortunate incident speaks to the increase in girls using violence to settle disputes. While officials state that the attack does not appear to be gang-related it has some of the same dynamics. Bullying and social media work together as culprits in many cases where girls use mob mentality to harass and belittle targeted girls. According to a report from Keys to Safer Schools shows, one out of every four violent fights is carried out by girls.
Teen Bullying Is Malicious And Calculated
The malicious behavior is startling. It’s moved beyond spreading vicious rumors where girls are labeled as “slut.” Today’s bullying consists of physical violence meant to maim. Locks inside of socks housed in school lockers are used to bash in faces of girls who may not even know why they are being attacked.
We don’t know if Joyner-Francis was attacked because a boy another girl was interested in showed her attention. What is clear is that more needs to be done to address girl-on-girl violence. Until it is, these types of unfortunate incidents will continue. The senseless death of Joyner-Francis, a high school sophomore and youth leader, is as heartbreaking as it is unnecessary.
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