An 11-year-old boy, Louis Johnson, tragically died by suicide after allegedly enduring months of verbal abuse and humiliation from his fifth-grade teacher, according to a wrongful death lawsuit reviewed by Mail Online.
The incident occurred on April 27, 2023, when Louis used a firearm to take his own life after what the lawsuit described as “persistent bullying and public embarrassment” at the hands of teacher Donna White.
He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
The lawsuit accuses White of engaging in a “systematic and chronic pattern of bullying,” including repeated verbal insults, such as calling the boy “stupid,” and encouraging other students to mock and isolate him.
It claims Louis felt “trapped” in a cycle of relentless humiliation, with no hope for relief.
After the tragic incident, Louis’ parents distributed “Suicide Prevention” flyers detailing the circumstances surrounding their son’s death and naming the teacher involved as Dawn White, referred to in legal documents as Donna White or Ms. White.
They are now seeking $75,000 in damages in a lawsuit that covers funeral expenses, legal costs, and compensation for emotional suffering. The family has also requested a jury trial.
According to investigators, Louis’s father had taken him to work that day and, upon returning home, briefly left a 9mm handgun unattended on the counter while stepping outside.
During that moment, the boy accessed the firearm and fatally shot himself.
Following an internal investigation, the Marion County School Board chose not to renew White’s contract, citing violations of the district’s anti-harassment policy and two breaches of the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession. She had initially been suspended for five days and had one unrelated disciplinary incident on her record before Louis’s death.