Nearly two months after Spelman student Jasmine Lynn was killed by a stray bullet while walking on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, her parents have filed a lawsuit against the historically black college. Constance Franklin and Clint Ronald Lynn recently spoke about the lawsuit with their attorney, Roderick Edmond, by their side.
The couple believes that Lynn’s death could have been prevented had Clark Atlanta University provided adequate security. “There were prior instances of violence on the campus of Clark,” Edmond said. “They could’ve had a more robust security presence. It’s our position that if more security existed, the criminal element that took this child would not have been there. This child would still be living. If there were more patrols and checkpoints, this criminal element would not have been on Clark’s campus.”
Lynn’s parents also revealed how emotionally draining it was for them to travel from Kansas City, Mo., to Atlanta. “Just coming to Atlanta is very tough,” Franklin said while wiping tears from her eyes. Every day is a different day and the realization hasn’t hit me yet. I’m not feeling anything. I wonder why this has happened to me. I want us to help our babies who are trying to better themselves. Let’s protect them. Why isn’t Clark helping?”
Devonni Manuel Benton, a 21-year-old student at ITT Technical, has been charged with the murder. –a.r.
