'Devoted father, passionate teacher' killed amid student prank. But victim's family calls for mercy over justice.



A Georgia high school teacher is dead after an alleged prank went terribly wrong, according to multiple reports. What's more, the teacher's passing came just a day after the school district warned students that previous pranks "have gone too far."

Jason Hughes was a math teacher at North Hall High School, according to the faculty page of the school's website.

'Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come.'

Citing the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the New York Times reported that a group of teenagers drove on Friday night to Hughes' home in Gainesville, Georgia, which is about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The Times said the teens were "armed with rolls of toilet paper to toss over the trees as part of a good-natured prank."

"Their teacher knew it was coming and couldn’t wait to surprise his students," the Times said, adding that Hughes "slipped and fell into the street" because the "ground outside was slick from rain."

The Times said the group of five teens "jumped in their vehicles and started to drive away," but one of the students ran over Hughes, according to the sheriff's office.

NBC News named 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace as the driver of the vehicle that allegedly hit Hughes.

"As Wallace began driving his pickup truck on North Gate Drive, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over by the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said, according to NBC News.

WAGA-TV reported that Wallace was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Wallace also faces misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and littering on private property.

WAGA identified the four other suspects — all 18-year-olds — as Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz. They all were charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and littering on private property.

All five teenagers were released on bond Sunday, the sheriff's office said.

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The day before Hughes' death, the Hall County School District specifically warned parents and students on social media about pranks that had previously "gone too far":

As we approach the eagerly awaited spring prom season, we want to take a moment to address an important matter regarding the conduct of our junior and senior students. While we understand that prom is a time for celebration and creating lasting memories, we must emphasize the importance of responsible behavior and respect for others and their property. In previous years, some pranks during prom season — sometimes referred to as Junior/Senior Wars — have gone too far, resulting in damage to property. We urge all students to refrain from participating in any activities that may cause harm or destruction to school or personal property. Such actions not only reflect poorly on the individual involved but also tarnish the reputation of our schools, families, and community. It's essential to recognize the serious consequences that can arise from engaging in destructive behavior. Damaging property can lead to criminal charges, not to mention the potential repercussions on your participation in graduation ceremonies and other special events planned for this time of year. We cannot stress enough the importance of making responsible choices and thinking about the long-term impact of your actions. As representatives of your schools, families, teams, clubs, and the Hall County School District, we trust that you will uphold the values of integrity and respect. Let's make this prom season a time of celebration, camaraderie, and positive memories for everyone involved. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and let's work together to ensure a safe and memorable prom season for all.

Wallace said in a Tuesday statement to WXIA that "I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten."

Wallace's family released the following statement:

We are a family in deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community. Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden. He took the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact. Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.

Instead of demanding criminal charges for the suspects, Hughes' family has called for mercy for the teens. The following is their statement obtained by WMAZ-TV:

There was no “confrontation.” Jason knew the students were coming and he was excited and waiting to “catch them” in the act. It had been raining, and he accidentally slipped and fell into the road in front of the vehicle as they were driving away and was hit. The students immediately tried to provide aid until paramedics arrived. Jason loved these students, and they loved him, too. Our family fully supports getting the charges dropped for all involved. This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students. This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.

Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh told WSB-TV he talked to Hughes' family about potentially dropping the charges against the teens: "Their request to drop the charges will be given great deference. I was not consulted by law enforcement before these charges were leveled. I will be reviewing the evidence as I should and will be deciding soon."

Commenters on social media seemed largely supportive of the Hughes family’s wishes:

  • One person said, "I’m so glad this family is calling for the right justice in the midst of a terrible tragedy. I hope the state listens."
  • A Facebook commenter said, "I truly believe [it] all was a sad turn of events. If the family can forgive and know it was just that, why do we, as outsiders, want these kids to be further punished[?]"

A statement released by a school district spokesperson and obtained by WXIA-TV stated that "our hearts are broken."

"Jason Hughes was a loving husband, a devoted father, a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues," the press release states. "He gave so much to so many in numerous ways."

The statement adds that "our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family."

According to a GoFundMe campaign, "Jason's life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come," the listing reads.

The crowdfunding campaign — which has raised nearly $475,000 as of Wednesday morning — is seeking donations "to assist his family with immediate expenses and a future college fund for his children."

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

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Battle over MTG's former seat goes unresolved on election night — but Trump-backed Republican tastes victory



Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) called it quits and left office on Jan. 5, leaving Georgia's 14th congressional district up for grabs.

Shawn Harris — a Democratic retired brigadier general who was previously defeated by Greene in a landslide — attempted to take the seat in Tuesday's free-for-all special election. He was, however, thwarted by Clay Fuller, a hard-nosed Republican who served in the Air National Guard and left his role as district attorney to run for Congress.

'TOO BIG TO RIG.'

With over 95% of the votes in as of Wednesday morning, Fuller — whom President Donald Trump characterized as an "America First Patriot" in his endorsement last month — had secured 34.9% of the total vote, reported the Associated Press.

Trump's pick handily outperformed over 10 other Republican contenders, including former Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, who identified himself on the campaign as "Trump's #1 Defender for Georgia's 14th Congressional District." Moore received 11.6% of the vote.

The other Republican candidates couldn't crack 5%.

Harris, alternatively, managed to secure 37.3% of the vote.

As neither Harris nor Fuller reached the necessary 50% plus one vote to take the district outright, they are headed to a head-to-head runoff election on April 7 where Trump's pick won't have to compete with fellow Republicans.

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Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images

Fuller told reporters at his election night watch party, "I would describe this as an outright win."

"We know that the endorsement from President Trump made a difference in this race, and we're going to go and win it," continued the candidate. "I think it's time that the Republican vote unites and gets a representative to Capitol Hill as soon as possible."

Trump noted just before midnight, "Congratulations to Clay Fuller, of Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, on getting such a high percentage of the vote with 12 Republicans running. We want to make the next vote 'TOO BIG TO RIG.' Clay will be a GREAT Congressman — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"

Notwithstanding his opponent's performance in a crowded Republican field, Harris claimed, "This race isn't over."

"Momentum is real. The coalition is growing," continued Harris. "Let’s finish what we started."

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Marjorie Taylor Greene All But Set To Be Replaced By Trump-Backed Republican

cementing his status

NBA turns Atlanta Hawks strip-club night on its head: 'Canceling ... is the right decision'



The NBA's Atlanta Hawks will not be permitted to celebrate a strip club at an upcoming home game.

The team's "Magic City Monday" game against the Orlando Magic was set for March 16 in an effort to celebrate local nude dancing venue Magic City with wings, musical performances, and podcasts.

'Can we just not be tied to a strip club?'

While multiple Hawks executives promoted the night — and the strip club — as a celebration of Atlanta's cultural fabric, the promotion drew ire from at least a couple of NBA players, including San Antonio Spurs player Luke Kornet, who asked the league to protect women, not denigrate them.

Despite the Hawks telling the New York Post that the event will go on as planned and Magic City telling TMZ there would be no nudity at the arena, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced on Monday the league was canceling the event.

"When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks' scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale," Silver wrote, per NBA Communications.

Silver went on, "While we appreciate the team's perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners, and employees."

"I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community," the commissioner concluded.

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Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage

The Hawks told TMZ in response that they are "very disappointed in the NBA's decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion."

Although they respect the league's decision, the team added that they remain committed to "celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together."

The team will still move forward with a performance by rapper T.I. on the night in question, though.

Magic City, on the other hand, did not complain, said it was "hyped to team up with the Hawks," and that it was "an honor just getting picked" by the team for a celebration.

RELATED: Atlanta Hawks strip club promotion called out by Catholic NBA player: 'Protect and esteem women'

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Fox Sports Radio personality Rob Parker said on Monday that he disagreed with the decision to cancel the promotion and asked why the themed night would be announced in the first place if the NBA was going to cancel it.

"Horrible public relations by the NBA to cave; 100%. Never should have got to the stage of this without the league at least signing off on something of this magnitude. I don't believe that people are doing their own thing and the NBA doesn't know anything is going on," Parker said on "The Odd Couple" show.

Parker said that he largely disagreed with the cancellation because people had already bought their tickets and because the Hawks were planning to celebrate a legal establishment.

"The league probably had no real position on it until all the pushback started, and then that's when the league got involved," he added.

Co-host Kelvin Washington disagreed, saying, "The NBA is a massive corporation, billions and billions of dollars that's tied to other massive corporations."

"I'm not shocked the Hawks wanted to do this and went ahead. I kept telling you I was shocked the NBA was OK with them doing this," Washington said.

"Magic City, for you to say 'this institution' — and actually it is in Atlanta — but it is also, at the end of the day, a strip club," Washington put it bluntly.

"Like, that's what it is," Washington concluded.

"The NBA may want to say, and their sponsors say, 'Eh, can we just not be tied to a strip club?'"

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Machete-wielding females beat up homeowner in robbery try, cops say. But victim ends attack with single shotgun blast.



A pair of machete-wielding females beat up a Georgia homeowner in a robbery attempt late last month, but authorities said the victim grabbed a gun and shot both of the suspects with a single round.

Deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Grove Mobile Home Park in Douglas on Feb. 21 concerning individuals who were shot, authorities said.

But the homeowner ultimately grabbed a shotgun and fired a single round, which struck both suspects, officials said.

Arriving deputies found two adult females — 35-year-old Stephanie Ann Nicole Castillo and 27-year-old Elisabet Gaspar — in a home with apparent gunshot wounds, officials said.

Emergency Medical Services rendered aid at the scene, officials said.

Deputies determined the shooting occurred at a different home after Castillo and Gaspar — who were allegedly armed with a machete — attacked the homeowner.

The victim told deputies Castillo and Gaspar arrived at the residence with the intent to commit a robbery.

RELATED: Police shoot New Jersey man who allegedly charged them with machete — then find gruesome scene inside his home

Image source: Coffee County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office

A lengthy physical struggle ensued, officials said, adding that the homeowner was beaten and assaulted.

But the homeowner ultimately grabbed a shotgun and fired a single round, which struck both suspects, officials said.

After Castillo and Gaspar were taken to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment and medically cleared, officials said they were taken into custody and transported to the Coffee County Jail.

Castillo and Gaspar both were charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of armed robbery, and one count of home invasion in the first degree, authorities said.

The sheriff's office said aggravated assault involves attacking someone with a deadly weapon or something capable of causing serious injury and carries a penalty of one to 20 years in prison per count.

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Father charged after teen son accused of fatally shooting 4 in Georgia HS — and jury returns verdict



A father was charged with murder after his teen son was accused of fatally shooting four in a Georgia high school in 2024 — and on Tuesday a jury returned a verdict in the case against the dad.

The jury found Colin Gray guilty of all charges in the deadly shooting his son is accused of carrying out at Apalachee High School in Winder, which is northeast of Atlanta, the Associated Press reported.

Colt Gray — who was 14 at the time of the shooting — pleaded not guilty to 55 counts, including murder, the AP said.

The outlet said Gray "now joins a growing number" of parents being held responsible after their children have been accused in shootings.

More from the AP:

Colin Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. Gray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Another teacher and eight other students were wounded. Gray was also convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children.

RELATED: 4 killed, 9 injured in shooting at Georgia high school, officials say

Gray will be sentenced at a later date, the AP said, adding that second-degree murder is punishable by at least 10 but no more than 30 years in prison; involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison.

"We talk a lot about rights in our country," Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith told the outlet after the verdict. "But God gave us a duty to protect our children, and I hope that we remember that, as parents, as community members, to protect our children because that is our God-given duty."

The teen's mother, Marcee Gray, wasn't charged, the AP said.

She testified that she urged her estranged husband to lock all guns inside his truck so their son Colt couldn't access them, the outlet noted. She and Colin Gray were separated in the months leading up to the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting, the AP reported, and Colt lived mostly with his father during that time.

Prosecutors said Colin Gray gave Colt the gun he's accused of using in the school shooting as a Christmas gift and allowed him access to it along with ammunition despite the boy's deteriorating mental health, the outlet reported, adding that they said Colin Gray had "sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger" others.

Colt Gray — who was 14 at the time of the shooting — pleaded not guilty to 55 counts, including murder, the AP said, adding that his judge set a status hearing for mid-March.

More from the AP:

Investigators said Colt Gray carefully planned the shooting at the school attended by 1,900 students.

He boarded the school bus with a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and then shot people in a classroom and hallways, investigators said.

Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, prosecutors said.

"It wasn't like one parent missed one warning," Smith told reporters, according to the outlet. "This was multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time and, like we said, you just had to do one thing — take that rifle away, and this would have been prevented."

The AP said Jennifer and James Crumbley — the first U.S. parents held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by a child — are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter after their son Ethan killed four students and wounded others in Michigan in 2021.

The outlet added that Colin Gray was the first such parent to be charged in Georgia.

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‘Moderate’ Abigail Spanberger Endorses Anti-ICE School Walkouts in Otherwise Dull SOTU Rebuttal

Self-described moderate Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D.) praised anti-ICE school walkouts on Tuesday in her otherwise unremarkable rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

The post ‘Moderate’ Abigail Spanberger Endorses Anti-ICE School Walkouts in Otherwise Dull SOTU Rebuttal appeared first on .

Marxist-Leninist Group That Organized Anti-Israel Encampments Now Teaches High School Students To Walk Out of Class To Protest ICE

Organizers behind the anti-Israel demonstrations across U.S. schools and cities are expanding their playbook to another cause: agitating high school students against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The post Marxist-Leninist Group That Organized Anti-Israel Encampments Now Teaches High School Students To Walk Out of Class To Protest ICE appeared first on .

Headed for sainthood? Catholic Church to beatify friars butchered in America for defending Christian marriage



Five Franciscan friars who traveled from Spain in the late 16th century to what is now Georgia were savagely murdered for defending the dignity of the sacrament of marriage. They are now well on their way to sainthood.

Monsignor Fred Nijem, drawing from the notes of Fr. Conrad Harkins — the vice-postulator for the canonization cause of the Georgia Martyrs — explained in Southern Cross magazine that "the missionaries met their death near present-day Darien. The reason for their death was their defense of the sanctity of marriage. The catalyst for their death was their refusal to allow a Catholic to take a second wife."

'They gave explicit and immediate witness of fidelity to Christ.'

According to the official website for the Georgia Martyrs, the friars lived for years with the coastal Indians of the Guale territory, learning their language, preaching the gospel, and welcoming many into the faith.

Among the coastal converts was a man named Juanillo, next in line to become tribal chief.

Friar Pedro de Corpa challenged the newly minted Christian's decision to take a second wife, vowing to oppose his rise to power if he persisted in his polygamic choice. The Indian evidently did not appreciate this challenge to his power.

Msgr. Nijem indicated that:

Juanillo left the mission and returned under cover of darkness, and bludgeoned Fr. Pedro to death, and impaled his severed head at the mission landing. The remaining four missionaries were also killed. The Guales had decided to dispatch all the "troublesome friars," who interfered with them having many wives.

All of the nearby friars were brutally murdered except for Friar Francisco de Avila, who was kidnapped and tortured until St. Augustine's governor managed to secure his release — 10 months later. Despite the cruelty he suffered at the hands of the Indians, de Avila refused to testify against them at trial in order to spare their lives.

RELATED: 'Pure bigotry': CNN fearmongers about 'Christian nationalism' in election-narrative tease

St. Francis of Assisi. Photo by: Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.

Prior to his death, Pope Francis recognized the murdered men of the Order of Friars Minor — four of whom were priests — as martyrs whose slayings were committed out of hatred for the Catholic faith.

The Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints recently announced that the Georgia Martyrs — Friars Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez de Cuacos, Miguel de Añón, and Francisco de Veráscola as well as lay brother Antonio de Badajoz — will be beatified at a ceremony in Savannah, Georgia, on Oct. 31.

An English translation of the dicastery's announcement notes that "aware of the risks connected to the apostolate, they gave explicit and immediate witness of fidelity to Christ and His message by fully transmitting the teaching of the Church."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops notes on its website that "all Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation."

Where official recognition by the Catholic Church goes, there are three steps to sainthood.

First, a candidate who "lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life" is recognized by the pope as "venerable." The second stage is beatification, which requires a finding of "one miracle acquired through the candidate's intercession." Finally, for canonization, a second miracle is required.

The UCCB noted, however, that "the pope may waive these requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr's beatification, but one is required before canonization."

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John Fetterman Dings Democrats For Opposing ‘Basic, Basic’ Voter ID

'They elected two Democrat senators'