ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — All charges against the five students in a Hall County prank that turned deadly have been dropped, according to an attorney for one of the students’ families.

Graham McKinnon, the attorney for Jayden Wallace’s family, said the Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office dismissed the charges against him and the other four students.

Jason Hughes, a math teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School, was killed in the incident.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said on March 6, five teenagers went to Hughes’ house to throw toilet paper on his trees. When they were confronted by him, they drove away — but Hughes tripped and was run over.

Wallace, Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz, all 18, were arrested and had been charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property. Wallace had also been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving.

“As the family’s attorney, I join them in thanking the District Attorney’s office of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit for completing a thorough investigation and for the prompt decision to dismiss all criminal charges against Jayden and the other students who were present,” McKinnon said in a statement early Friday afternoon. “District Attorney Lee Darragh was able to act swiftly because the facts and circumstances are not in dispute.”

McKinnon said Wallace and his friends were “participating in a competitive game outside the home of their beloved teacher as part of a longtime junior-senior tradition at North Hall High School.”

“As he was leaving the home, Jayden never saw Mr. Hughes, and Jayden’s vehicle had only traveled a few feet when the accident occurred. Vehicular homicide charges were not warranted because Jayden never operated his truck in a dangerous, improper, or unsafe manner. In the end, there was no crime — only an extremely sad and devastating accident,” McKinnon said in the statement. “Jayden is still grieving deeply but is determined to move forward eventually to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud.”

Hughes’ wife, Laura, also wanted the charges dropped.

In a previous statement, Laura said her husband “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act,” referring to the group of students determined to pull off the prank.

McKinnon gave a press conference later Friday afternoon, during which he underscored the “generous support, forgiveness and understanding” of Laura Hughes, whom he credited for encouraging the district attorney to drop the charges.

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW:

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Friday saying they supported the district attorney’s decision to drop the charges.

The statement said, in part, “The Hall County Sheriff’s Office is tasked with making appropriate charges in cases where there is evidence to do so, even when the decision to bring charges is difficult and could be viewed negatively by the public. It is the responsibility of the District Attorney’s Office to determine how to handle those charges through adjudication. We respect Mr. Darragh’s decision to dismiss the charges in this incident.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

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