5-year-old Bellamy Dawkins-Morris dies after classroom display board falls on him

A 120-pound interactive display fell on the student at Riviera Elementary School in Florida, prompting a police investigation.

Bellamy Dawkins-Morris, a 5-year-old student at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay, Florida, died after a 120-pound interactive digital display fell on him in his classroom. Police are investigating the incident, while the school district and manufacturer review what happened.

As reported by The New York Times, the incident occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7. School staff called 911 and administered first aid before emergency responders arrived. Bellamy died after being transported to a hospital, according to the Palm Bay Police Department and Brevard Public Schools.

A GoFundMe has been established to assist with funeral costs.

Brevard Public Schools said the digital display had been installed on a classroom wall by a licensed third-party vendor in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Following Bellamy’s death, the district began inspecting its Promethean interactive displays as a precaution.

Promethean, the education technology company that manufactured the board, also announced that it was investigating the incident. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said in a statement, adding that the district would continue working with law enforcement and take appropriate precautions.

Dawkins-Morris’ family told WESH 2 that the child had been moving the display back and forth while other pupils were lining up. His great-aunt, Miriam Rodriguez, questioned whether the equipment had been adequately secured. “Obviously, the monitor was not secure, and that’s a huge issue. That could have been anybody’s child,” Rodriguez told WESH 2.

The family also shared that Bellamy was autistic. His great-aunt described how he responded to moving objects, but authorities have not publicly determined what caused the display to fall or whether any safety requirements were violated. Superintendent Rendell said he met with Bellamy’s family following the tragedy and expressed grief over the loss of the young student.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not announced findings about responsibility for the incident.