A St. Louis teenager is fighting for her life after a vicious beating is believed to have fractured her skull and left her with serious brain damage.
“In minutes, this family’s life shattered when their only daughter was assaulted outside of a North County high school,” reads a GoFundMe page set by a friend up on behalf of the victim’s family. “She was left alone on the ground to convulse before EMTs arrived on the scene.”
St. Louis station KSDK identified the victim as Hazelwood East High School student Kaylee Gain. Her alleged assailant, a 15-year-old girl identified by some students as Maurnice DeClue, was arrested in connection with the drubbing. She is currently being held by St. Louis County Family Court on assault charges.
Video of the Friday fight went viral in recent days, showing two girls squaring up for a brawl that immediately went wrong for Gain. After being thrown to the ground, she takes several punches to the head before having her skull repeatedly bashed against the concrete.
Other teens continued fighting around Gain as she laid limp in the street. Shocked onlookers can he heard reacting off-camera to the extent of the violence they witnessed.
According to the GoFundMe, Gain is suffering “major brain bleeding and swelling” and remains in critical condition while loved ones wait to learn the extent of her long-term injuries if she pulls through.
As of Wednesday evening, the fundraiser to help cover healthcare costs has earned more than $120,000 since being posted on Tuesday.
St. Louis County Police confirmed a girl suffered “a severe head injury” in a fight near a high school Friday afternoon, but named neither of the teenagers involved.
A court hearing in the next few weeks will determine if the suspect is to be charged as an adult.
