NORTH EAST, Md. — UPDATE (June 5): Baltimore City Public Schools posted a new statement on its website, saying, “This past week, Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School and the entire Baltimore City Public Schools community suffered a devastating loss. Athumani Brown, a seventh-grade student, passed away tragically after a significant medical event during a field trip. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the school community as we mourn and process the loss of a son, a student and a young member of our community.”Since the tragedy, City Schools has been in frequent communication with NorthBay Adventure Camp. NorthBay will conduct a full investigation of this incident and provide its findings to City Schools. North Bay has also committed to conduct an independent review of its emergency protocols to support student safety in any future outdoor education programs.
“We thank you for your support of Athumani’s family and Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School during this moment. Through the power of our community, we will honor his memory through our efforts.”
ORIGINAL STORY (June 3): A Baltimore family is devastated following the mysterious death of its 13-year-old charter school student.
Athumani Brown died while on a school-sponsored field trip in Cecil County. The NorthBay Adventure Camp is about an hour’s drive from the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School on Guilford Avenue, and it’s a popular place for students. This week, the scenic getaway is now a place of heartbreak for Brown’s family.
“I got a call from the teacher at NorthBay saying something happened, there was a medical emergency and he was on his way to the hospital,” said Dionn Brown, Athumani’s mother.
Athumani died before the family could make it to Cecil County.
“We want to know what’s going on. We want to know what happened to him. You don’t send your child off on a field trip and the very next day that child is dead,” Dionn Brown said. “He was happy, he was healthy, he was well taken care of, and we want to know what happened. What happened to Athu? What happened to my son?”
So far, the family has seen no documents, no police report and no medical examiner’s finding.
Students from two other Baltimore City schools were at the same camp at the time of the tragedy.
Neil Dampier, executive director of NorthBay Adventure Camp, posted a statement on the camp’s website, saying: “NorthBay is deeply saddened by the death of a student from Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School yesterday who experienced a medical emergency during a field trip to NorthBay. We are currently awaiting reports to determine what occurred and how best to support the family and our staff during this difficult time. This is a very challenging situation, and we are committed to providing the support and care they need. Please keep the family of the student in your thoughts and prayers.”
Baltimore City Public Schools sent a statement to 11 News, saying: “On Tuesday, a seventh-grade student at Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School passed away during a field trip at NorthBay Adventure Camp. To be clear, ‘during’ means he was participating in the field trip. We believe a significant medical event took place.
“Students at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School and the Middle Alternative Program were also present at the camp but were reportedly not nearby when the medical event occurred.
“City Schools assigned counselors and social workers to Baltimore Montessori to support students and staff individually and in groups. The situation is difficult, and we are committed to providing the care our community will need. Medical experts and law enforcement are investigating.”