Lawsuit says underfunded campus failed to protect Loving, support disabilities
The mother of Darrin Loving, the Manor Senior High School student killed in a 2024 stabbing, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the district and state officials failed to protect her son.
Mary Etta Sephus filed the suit Oct. 19 against Manor Independent School District, the Texas Education Agency and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. It alleges they failed to provide appropriate protection and support for her son’s disabilities.
District officials did not comment on the ongoing lawsuit but said in a statement Loving’s death remains a heartbreaking loss for the community and Manor ISD is committed to improving campus safety.
“We understand how deeply this loss continues to be felt and how important it is for families to know their children’s safety and well-being are our highest priority,” the statement reads. “Keeping our schools safe takes ongoing care, attention and partnership. We remain committed to reviewing and improving our safety procedures and working alongside our staff and families to provide the safest learning environments possible for every student.”
The district added its ongoing work to strengthen campus safety includes weapons detection systems at its secondary campuses, at least one officer assigned to every campus and efforts to recognize when students need mental health support and connect them with help.
Alleged lack of intervention
According to court records, Mac Brown Mbah Mbanwei attacked Loving in a boys’ bathroom during lunch period in October 2024.
Surveillance footage described in the lawsuit shows students reporting that Mbanwei had a knife to a school resource officer, who confronted Mbanwei and asked him to remove his hands from his pockets. A struggle followed, and the officer discovered Mbanwei was holding a kitchen knife.
Records show Loving left the bathroom and made his way toward the cafeteria, where he collapsed and died from his injuries.
Authorities charged Mbanwei with murder, but he was later found mentally incompetent to stand trial, according to court records.
The complaint states Loving had a history of significant health problems and required close supervision, particularly in the bathroom. It says he had congenital vocal cord paresis and required a tracheostomy tube to address upper airway obstructions.
The condition contributed to significant speech and communication difficulties, and his cognitive impairment and diminished social skills made him a target of ridicule by other students. Loving was frequently seen by the school nurse for choking incidents, bruising and unexplained injuries, according to court documents.
The lawsuit alleges district officials knew he had been bullied and harassed but failed to intervene. It further claims school officials knew about Mbanwei’s history of bringing weapons onto campus, violent tendencies and emotional and behavioral problems, and did not act on it accordingly.
According to the complaint, Mbanwei had bullied Loving and previously brought a screwdriver to class — the tool was confiscated without disciplinary action and Mbanwei was later allowed to bring it to class.
State funding claims The lawsuit states the Texas Education Agency failed to give Manor ISD sufficient funding for campus security and the supervision of students with disabilities. It claims the district had to delay security projects, including fencing upgrades, expanded surveillance, additional school resource officers and an improved communication system.
According to the lawsuit, the state should provide at least $1,000 per student for security but has provided only $100.
The complaint also challenges the state’s school funding system, including recapture, which requires certain districts to send a portion of locally collected property tax revenue to the state.
The lawsuit notes Manor ISD sent nearly $2 million to the state for the 2024-25 school year while facing financial difficulties.
It alleges budget constraints delayed security improvements and limited the district’s ability to address campus safety needs, particularly for students with disabilities.
The family is seeking damages for Loving’s pain and suffering before his death, medical and funeral expenses, Sephus’ mental anguish and loss of companionship, and attorney fees.
