Classmate charged in death of teen said to be bullying victim
By BENITA Y. WILLIAMS and LAURA BAUER
The Kansas City Star
At Gardner Edgerton High School, Dakota DeRemus was the kid some students liked to pick on.
And Wednesday, authorities charged another sophomore, Dustin Howard, with involuntary manslaughter after a fight led to DeRemus’ death.
DeRemus, who authorities said had a heart ailment, was hit in the chest, ribs and back while at least four youths watched after school Monday. He collapsed during the fight in the backyard of his Gardner home, and an hour later, neighbors found his body, police said.
The two boys, both 16, agreed to fight, the suspect’s attorney said at a hearing Wednesday in the juvenile division of Johnson County District Court. Authorities confiscated a cell-phone video of the fight.
DeRemus’ father, Frank DeRemus, lashed out Wednesday at the suspect’s family during the hearing, saying his son had been bullied for two years.
<skip>
After DeRemus’ father lashed out at Howard’s family in court, deputies grabbed him, slammed him against a wall, leaving a hole, then led him away in handcuffs over protests from relatives.Johnson County Sheriff’s spokesman Tom Erickson said the man was released without being booked into jail. A disorderly conduct report will be sent to the district attorney to review for possible charges.
more . . .
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/479068-p2.html