NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A candlelight vigil was held Friday evening for a Menchville High School student who died while at school earlier in the week.
The vigil for Kaleiah Jones was held at Riverview Farm Park, across from Menchville High School.
On Tuesday, Kaleiah experienced a medical emergency. Her family told 13News Now they were shocked when she unexpectedly passed away, and they questioned school staff.
"This is heartbreaking," said Porscha Frank, Kaleiah's aunt. "This was a shock because this was happening. She was not passing out; she was not sick."
The family said school staff waited nine minutes before rendering aid to Jones.
"When the EMT arrived, they were asking what you have done," explained Keyonna Stewart, Kaleiah's mother. "Where is the AED? Definitely, protocols were not followed."
Frank agrees with Stewart, saying more should have been done.
"That was a long nine minutes, and like her mother said, all she got was a towel, and don't pretend like you're there — be there."
In a statement, the Newport News School Division detailed the staff's response, along with sharing condolences.
"School administrators, security officers, a school nurse, and a School Resource Officer responded," the division's statement reads. "The nurse and the School Resource Officer tended to the student until paramedics arrived and took over her care. Our thoughts are with the student's family and friends."
As loved ones embraced one another, Stewart shared frustration about the school not responding faster.
"Four to five minutes of just laying there, she would have help within the time she would've been here," said Stewart.
The family held a moment of silence for nine minutes. They said each minute represented the time Kaleiah went without aid.
Stewart said Kaleiah will be laid to rest next month in California.