Overview

• A 17-year-old driver was charged in juvenile court with involuntary manslaughter after a June 1 parking-lot stunt at Freedom High School led to a classmate’s death.
• A 19-year-old driver faces aggravated assault and related counts after a March 18 incident in a Park and Ride lot where a 20-year-old friend fell while “trunk surfing” and suffered permanent catastrophic head injuries.
• District Attorney Stephen Baratta said investigators found no intent to injure, but concluded the conduct in both cases was so reckless it met criminal culpability.
• The victims’ families are not seeking incarceration, and the DA’s office says it will pursue supervision-focused resolutions expected to avoid trial with potential for later expungement.
• Officials publicized the cases to deter copycat challenges that were recorded and shared on social media, while TikTok says it removes dangerous-content violations and redirects searches to safety resources.