11-Year-Old Boy Dies by Suicide After Months of Bullying and Public Humiliation by Teacher Who Called Him 'Stupid', Lawsuit Claims
An 11-year-old boy from Florida tragically took his own life after enduring relentless bullying from his teacher. The lawsuit filed by his parents claims that the fifth-grade teacher, Donna White, repeatedly called him “stupid,” contributing to a devastating cycle of humiliation and emotional distress.
The boy, identified as Louis Johnson, reportedly shot himself after months of being subjected to verbal abuse and public embarrassment at Legacy Elementary School in Ocala. According to the lawsuit, which was filed against the Marion County School Board on April 21, White not only belittled Johnson but also encouraged other students to join in on the bullying.
In a particularly distressing account, the lawsuit alleges that White told Johnson, “I don’t know why you’re talking because you don’t even know anything. You don’t know nothing in this class. Isn’t that right, kids?” This kind of behavior, as described in the court documents, created an environment where Johnson felt isolated and tormented.
Despite Johnson's parents reporting White's actions to both the school and the school board multiple times, they claim that no action was taken to address the situation. The emotional toll of the bullying led Johnson to suffer from severe depression and anxiety, ultimately culminating in his tragic decision to take his own life on April 27, 2023. He succumbed to his injuries two days later in the hospital, as confirmed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
In the wake of their son’s death, Johnson's parents took to the school to distribute suicide prevention flyers, which also included further allegations against White. Interestingly, while the lawsuit names her as Donna White, the flyers and school district records refer to her as Dawn White, raising questions about the accuracy of the information being circulated.
White has been a part of the Marion County school district since 2009, teaching at various schools, including a return to Legacy Elementary for a final stint as a fourth-grade teacher from 2022 to 2023. The family had recently relocated to Ocala from Virginia, and according to Detective Nick Sutliff, who interviewed the parents, Johnson had been a happy child with no behavioral issues prior to the move.
On the day of the incident, Johnson's father, Louis Johnson Jr., had taken him to work on his food truck. Upon returning home, he placed a 9mm Ruger handgun on the counter, a firearm that was typically kept locked away in a safe. While checking on his truck outside, he heard a gunshot and rushed back inside to find his son injured, prompting an immediate call to 911.
Following the incident, an investigative report was conducted, interviewing over two dozen students about White's behavior. The findings revealed that White often reacted with anger when students answered questions incorrectly, sometimes reducing them to tears. The report concluded that her “verbally insulting, humiliating, and embarrassing” tactics inflicted significant psychological distress on her students.
As a result of the investigation, Marion County Public Schools chose not to renew White's contract, signaling a potential shift in how such cases of bullying are handled within the district. However, the school board has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit or the circumstances surrounding Johnson's tragic death.
