A 10-year-old boy with special needs died after choking on food at a Chicago elementary school, and his family is now suing the school district, alleging he was left unsupervised in violation of his care plan.
Kody Townsend, a student at Clissold Elementary School, died on Oct. 18 following the incident. His parents, Travis and Lakeisha Jones-Townsend, say Kody had a history of seizures and developmental delays and was supposed to receive constant supervision under an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
The family’s lawsuit, filed against Chicago Public Schools, the Board of Education, and the city of Chicago, claims that Kody choked while eating and that school staff failed to respond appropriately, ultimately leading to his death at a local hospital.
“No parent should send their kid to s