Family Sues After Ardrey Kell High School Fight

The family of a 15-year-old boy involved in a fight with a female classmate at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte has filed a civil lawsuit, alleging slander, libel, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the girl, her family, and several community representatives. The lawsuit claims that false statements, including allegations of a hate crime motivated by racial and religious animus, were made against their son. Investigations by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the FBI found no evidence to support hate crime charges. The boy's family asserts he acted in self-defense after the girl initiated the altercation, and that public dissemination of false narratives led to threats and vandalism targeting their family. Both students were suspended, and the case has attracted significant media and community attention. Both families and their advocates are calling for the release of video evidence from the incident.