RINGGOLD, Ga. — A 15-year-old Ringgold High School student has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter in the suspected drug overdose death Saturday of 16-year-old Timothy Lebron Smith.
The suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, also faces charges of three counts of distribution of prescription drugs and one count of possession of prescription drugs, Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers said at a morning news conference.
The juvenile was charged with dispensing prescription to three of his friends, including the youth who died Saturday.
Timothy Smith was found dead Saturday at the home of a friend where he had spent the night.
Sheriff Summers said Mr. Smith took four tablets of 80-milligram Oxycodone. Another teenager took three tablets and nearly died, the sheriff said.
The two others, including the suspect who was arrested, took two tablets and became ill, but were not hospitalized.
The teen charged in the case apparently got the medication from his home, and his parents reported it to police.
Sheriff Summers said the pills were distributed at Ringgold High School, where an extensive education program was started today to makes teens aware of the dangers of prescription medication.
A second teen died under similar circumstances on Feb. 13, but the Sheriff said he cannot rule it an overdose until toxicology reports are returned.
Sheriff Summers said the 15-year-old will be tried as a juvenile and not as an adult.
See tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
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