PITTSBURGH — Woodland Hills School District’s high school principal, who the district attorney said earlier this week will not face criminal charges, will soon be reinstated, the district’s superintendent announced Thursday.
Kevin Murray was placed on paid leave last month after a recording surfaced of him allegedly threatening a student with special needs. The 14-year-old student made the recording in April 2016.
In the recording, Murray is allegedly heard threatening to punch the student, adding that if it ever went to court, it would be his word versus the boy’s.
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There was no shortage of community support for Murray at Woodland Hills’ school board meeting after the recording was revealed.
With the investigation closed, Murray will be reinstated, but a date was not given.
"Does he regret the interaction ever took place? Yes, he is remorseful about that. But I'll tell you this, he is relieved and he is excited because he wants to get back in there,” said Phil DiLucente, Murray’s attorney.
In a statement to Channel 11 News, Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Al Johnson explained the decision for Murray’s return, saying in part:
Brandi Fisher, the president of the Alliance for Police Accountability - one of the groups that called for Murray's firing - also released a statement Thursday, which read:
The attorney for the 14-year-old student at the center of the incident said his client and his family are extremely disappointed over the reinstatement.
The child’s family members said the student had been removed from the school district, and they filed a petition to review the district attorney’s decision not to press charges.