Local cheerleader claims she was suspended after eating gummy laced with drugs

PITTSBURGH — A local cheerleader claims she was suspended over a piece of gummy candy that turned out to be laced with drugs.

Jekara Jackson, a freshman at Bishop Canevin High School, tells Channel 11 she was handed a peach ring at a football game by another cheerleader under the guise it was candy. But as soon as the ninth grader ate it, she says several teammates began laughing at her.

“I’m highly upset,” said Jackson. “It’s very heartbreaking that someone I thought was my friend gave me this. What if I could have died?”

Jackson’s mother, Jaerica Russell, who wasn’t at the game, says the school never notified her that her child was sick. However, by Monday, she was notified her daughter was suspended.

“She started throwing up, she got the chills,” said Russell. “No one is held accountable but her, for something she had nothing to do with.”

Russell claims the school’s athletic director informed her that her child never received medical treatment following the reaction to the candy. However, Carnegie’s police chief told Channel 11 that he happened to be at the game that night and saw Jackson acting lethargic. He tells us she did in fact receive medical help.

Channel 11 got in touch with the school along with the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

They sent the following statement:

“This is a confidential student matter. Be assured we take the safety of our school community very seriously and are in compliance with our school policies and procedures.”

In the meantime, Russell says the girl who gave her child the candy has not only taken her daughter’s coveted position on the team as a flyer, but also not received any form of punishment yet.

“I believe this was a hazing, like a let’s-get-her-back type of Halloween trick. But it just wasn’t funny. It’s not a trick. It’s not funny at all,” said Russell.

The family has filed a police report and tells Channel 11 they don’t know when Jackson will be able to return to school and the cheerleading squad.

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