The Johnsons had hoped Florida would give them the fresh start they needed. Warm sunshine, new opportunities, and a chance to rebuild their lives together in Ocala, an hour outside of Orlando. They had moved from Virginia just shortly before the tragedy happened. Their 11-year-old son, Louis Johnson III, known to family and friends as ‘LJ,’ took his own life in April 2023, just months after the move. Last month, on April 21, 2025, LJ’s parents, Tyka Johnson and Louis Johnson Jr., filed a lawsuit against the Marion County School Board. Court documents show they believe their son’s teacher bullied him so relentlessly that he saw no way out.
The Painful Experiences LJ Faced at School
The lawsuit says LJ was often embarrassed at school. His teacher called him “stupid” in front of the whole class. Court papers say she told him, “I don’t know why you’re talking because you don’t even know anything. You don’t know nothing in this class. Isn’t that right, kids?” The teacher also told the other students to make fun of him.
Tyka and Louis Johnson Jr. watched their son’s spirit break. He couldn’t sleep. He suffered from nightmares every night. According to Detective Nick Sutliff, who interviewed the parents, the boy, who had been happy and well-adjusted with no behavioral problems in Virginia, slowly disappeared after moving to Florida.
The teacher, Donna White (though school records identify her as Dawn White), had been with the district since 2009 and had a complicated history at Legacy Elementary School. She taught at Legacy initially, then moved to other schools before returning to Legacy for a second time as a fourth-grade teacher between 2017 and 2021, and a third and final time between 2022 and 2023. She was LJ’s fifth-grade teacher at this point.
A Day That Changed Everything for Louis Johnson III
“On April 27, 2023, LJ helped his dad in their food truck that morning. Later at home, his dad stepped outside for a moment. The family owned guns, which they usually kept locked in a safe in the parents’ bedroom. LJ didn’t know the code to the safe. But that day, his dad had left his 9mm Ruger handgun on the counter after they got home.
While the father was outside checking that his food truck had power, he heard a gunshot. He rushed back inside to find his son bleeding and immediately called 911. Despite emergency medical intervention, LJ fought for his life for two days before passing away.
What Did The School Know?
After LJ died, school officials spoke to more than 25 students about the teacher, including twelve from LJ’s class. What the students said left the officials quite concerned. Students described a classroom ruled by fear. Many called the teacher “scary” and said she would get furious when students answered wrong, publicly shaming them about their grades and often making them cry.
The official investigation concluded that the teacher “chronically inflicted psychological distress on several students by verbally insulting, humiliating, and embarrassing” them. Following their investigation, the school board chose not to renew White’s contract. When contacted, district representatives stated they cannot comment on pending litigation, standard practice for schools facing legal action. The Marion County Public Schools did not respond immediately to media outlets‘ requests.
Fighting For Change After Louis Johnson III’s Death
Grief drove Tyka Johnson and Louis Johnson Jr. to act. They distributed suicide prevention flyers at the school that also detailed what they believe happened to their son.
In the court documents, LJ’s parents state they had repeatedly reported White’s actions to school officials before the awful tragedy happened. We tried to tell them. ‘ They claim the school board did nothing to prevent or correct her behavior.’
Their lawsuit seeks at least $75,000 in damages. They know money can’t bring back their son, but it might help cover the family’s therapy costs and funeral expenses. The Johnsons also launched a GoFundMe campaign that offers a glimpse into LJ’s vibrant personality: ‘He loved the beach, catching crabs, making TikTok recipes, and was a huge advocate for the homeless. If he saw a homeless person, he immediately said, “Dad, we gotta pray for that person.”‘ The fundraiser describes him as ‘a much loved son, brother, uncle, and friend’ who ‘would light up any room with his infectious smile.’
More importantly, Tyka and Louis Johnson Jr. hope the legal action will force the district to implement stricter teacher management and bullying prevention systems to protect other vulnerable children. As they wrote in their impact statement, ‘No family should ever have to wonder if their child will be safe at school.
Spotting Trouble Before It’s Too Late
This tragedy makes us ask ourselves an important question: How can we recognize when a child is being bullied? Modern bullying includes not just physical confrontations but cruel words, social isolation, and online harassment.
Watch for warning signs: Not wanting to go to school, sleep problems, unusual sadness or anger. Have open conversations with children and create safe spaces for them to share their experiences. Encourage them to seek help from trusted adults.
Louis Johnson III’s story shows how deeply classroom experiences affect children. Words can wound deeply, especially from authority figures. By recognizing the signs and taking action, we can build safer learning environments where all children can thrive without fear.
