'Their daughter is gone:' KUSD 'will not sanction' memorial for Kaylie Juga during football game

KENOSHA -- A group of Kenosha cheerleaders wanted to honor their friend, Kaylie Juga, who was brutally murdered on May 9, but officials with the Kenosha Unified School District said, not so fast.

The cheerleaders wanted to honor Juga at the football game Friday, Sept. 20 at Bradford High School. KUSD officials sought legal advice, issuing a long statement Tuesday, Sept. 17 -- not saying more than that.

Those who knew and loved Juga didn't want to stay quiet.

"Everybody should be entitled to heal," said Theresa Munns, family friend. "Their daughter is gone, and she's never coming back."

Munns said the Juga family was looking forward to the game, with the cheerleaders planning a night in blue to honor Juga's life. Kaylie Juga was fatally shot on May 9 at her Kenosha home. The shooting wounded Juga's mother, Stephanie. Prosecutors said Martice Fuller, 16, Juga's ex-boyfriend, pulled the trigger. He has a jury trial scheduled for February 2020, and has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including first degree intentional homicide. Prosecutors said Fuller stalked Juga before allegedly killing her, and he was removed from school for threatening her.

"Those girls lost their friend, their teammate," said Danielle Tully. "They want to honor her. I don't see what the harm is in some girls doing a cheer with some pictures and a moment of silence."

"This game is Friday, and it meant to much to so many people," said Makayla Falcone,  friend. "She touched so many people's lives, and it was supposed to finally be a thing where we all come together and like, remember her, and they took it all away."

KUSD released this statement Tuesday:

It prompted Juga's friends to show up to the school board meeting Tuesday at Indian Trail High School.

"They wanted to dedicate the game to her because this is a tragedy, and they're a large part of our community," said Munns. "They're a military family that gives up their time and lives to fight for our freedom every day, and this is what they get in return."

Fewer than a dozen of Juga's friends showed up at the meeting Tuesday asking for more of an explanation as to why this memorial couldn't go on as planned. School board officials said they could not offer more at this meeting.