King Overton: Family to Sue SwimRVA Over Camp Drowning

King Overton, a 9-year-old boy from the Richmond area, drowned on June 15, 2026, during his first day at a SwimRVA summer camp at the organization's North location in Henrico County, Virginia. Four months later, his family says it still does not know how long he was under the water, and it is now taking SwimRVA to court.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, working with Richmond attorney Mark J. Krudys, said the family would announce a wrongful death lawsuit against SwimRVA on Friday, October 16, outside the John Marshall Courts Building in Richmond. Separately, a special prosecutor from neighboring Chesterfield County has taken over the official review of King's death after a conflict of interest surfaced in the Henrico prosecutor's office. No one has been charged.

Who Was King Overton?

King was 9 years old and a student at St. Andrew's School in Richmond, according to WTVR CBS 6. His mother, LaTaisha Johnson, had signed him up for the SwimRVA camp so he could learn how to swim. WWBT reported that she told camp staff on June 15 that her son could not swim.

In posts shared on Facebook and quoted by theGrio, Johnson wrote, "King was our everything," and described the family's pain as "unbearable." She told reporters, "I'm devastated. I'm numb."

What Happened at SwimRVA North?

According to theGrio, King was pulled from the pool around 2:30 p.m. on June 15. Staff reportedly started CPR before first responders arrived, and he was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

Many of the key details come from the family's attorneys and have not been confirmed by investigators. In a statement on Monday, September 14, Ben Crump Law and The Krudys Law Firm said the evidence they had seen suggested King "may have been underwater for 10 minutes or longer" before a very young child noticed him and told an adult. They said a bystander, a mother, brought King up from below the surface, and that no SwimRVA employee saw him go under.

The attorneys also claimed that a large inflatable play structure had been placed in front of an elevated lifeguard chair, blocking part of the pool from the lifeguard's view. WTVR reported that public records it obtained showed several lifeguards, counselors and other staff were on site that day. These allegations have not been tested in court.

The Licensing Question

A second issue in the case is whether the camp should have been licensed by the state. WWBT reported that the Virginia Department of Education determined SwimRVA was not exempt from state licensing requirements for its summer camp program. According to the family's attorneys, the department issued a notice of findings on July 20 saying SwimRVA had operated without a license, and the organization afterward changed its schedule and operations to qualify for an exemption.

Why a Special Prosecutor Took Over

Henrico Police, Henrico Child Protective Services and the Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney's Office had been looking into how the camp was set up and who was responsible for supervision. On August 31, Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor announced that an employee in her office was also a paid SwimRVA employee, a fact her office did not know at the time of the drowning.

At the office's request, Chief Judge Rondelle Herman of the Henrico Circuit Court appointed Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney Erin Barr as special prosecutor. Taylor said her office was no longer involved, and that the Henrico detective and the CPS investigator would work with Barr's team. No findings or charging decision have been made public.

What SwimRVA Has Said

SwimRVA has described King's death as "a tragic accident" and said its camp "was more than adequately staffed on that date," according to WTVR. In a statement quoted by theGrio, the organization said it is cooperating with authorities as they review what happened and that its "hearts are with the child's family and loved ones during this loss." SwimRVA has not been found liable for anything, and the family's claims will have to be proven in court.

What Happens Next

The family's legal team said the wrongful death lawsuit would be filed in Richmond on Friday, October 16. Its full claims and any amount sought had not been made public before the announcement. On the criminal side, the decision on whether anyone will face charges rests with special prosecutor Erin Barr. MotiveX will update this case when new court filings or prosecutor decisions are reported.

Timeline of the King Overton Case

Frequently Asked Questions

How did King Overton die?

King, 9, drowned on June 15, 2026, during his first day at a SwimRVA summer camp in Henrico County, Virginia. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Has anyone been charged in King Overton's death?

No. Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney Erin Barr was appointed special prosecutor in late August and has not announced a decision.

Who is suing SwimRVA?

King's family, represented by Ben Crump and Mark J. Krudys, said it would file a wrongful death lawsuit against SwimRVA on October 16, 2026.

What has SwimRVA said?

SwimRVA has called the drowning a tragic accident, said the camp was adequately staffed, and said it is cooperating with authorities.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• WWBT 12 On Your Side: Wrongful death lawsuit to be filed against SwimRVA
• WTVR CBS 6: Ben Crump announces lawsuit against SwimRVA
• theGrio: Crump to represent family of 9-year-old drowning victim
• WTVR CBS 6: Special prosecutor takes over King Overton case
• WTVR CBS 6: Family attorneys share new details in King Overton case