Department of Juvenile Justice to pay $4.5M to family of 17-year-old who died at Waycross detention center

WAYCROSS, Ga. (WTOC) - The Department of Juvenile Justice will pay $4.5 million to the family of 17-year-old Loyce Tucker, who died after a so-called “fight game” at the Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center.The department settled a federal lawsuit filed by Tucker’s family. A guard at the detention center is accused of allowing the fight game to happen.What the lawsuit saysThe lawsuit says Tucker passed out after being hit in the neck during a “fight game” in August 2022. Tucker died of neck trauma two days after the fight.In a 911 call from the facility, an employee told the operator a child had passed out a few minutes earlier. The employee gave the child’s age as 17 and his name as Loyce Tucker.The lawsuit says 911 was not called for at least 10 minutes after Tucker passed out. Video from the detention center shows other children moving Tucker from one room in the facility to another.The lawsuit alleges the guard who organized the fight, Thomas Hicks, dragged Tucker into the show