Family Seeks Answers After Tragic Loss of Son at School

A father is still fighting for answers one week after his son, Landon Payton, 14, tragically died after suffering a medical emergency at Marshall Middle School.

On Wednesday, HISD shared new video with the Payton Family. However, their attorney stated that the video still doesn’t provide a clear understanding of what transpired on the day Landon passed away.

The family recently met with district leaders for about two hours to discuss the situation. While they are grateful for the opportunity to view some of the video footage related to Landon, their questions remain unanswered.

Despite the challenges in finding closure, the family continues to stand united in their quest for the truth.

According to family attorney, Chris Tritico, “The outpouring of love that the community has given them has been uplifting to see every day.”

Despite viewing additional surveillance footage at HISD headquarters, the family still feels a sense of unease. The video did not provide the closure they were hoping for.

Last week, Alexis Payton, Landon’s father, watched bodycam footage of his son’s final moments. He expressed his frustration at the lack of answers provided by the video.

Tritico emphasized that the latest video showed Landon in good health, which makes the tragedy even more difficult to comprehend.

As of now, the district has not provided any concrete answers to the family’s inquiries. Tritico mentioned that until they receive the autopsy results, they are limited in what they can do.

Amidst the ongoing uncertainty, questions have been raised about the functionality of automated heart defibrillators across district campuses. Tritico emphasized the importance of determining whether the failure of the AED device could have impacted Landon’s outcome.

The attorney also highlighted the district’s lack of communication regarding the use of CPR and defibrillators during Landon’s medical emergency.

As the family prepares for Landon’s private funeral service, their quest for justice and answers continues.