Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Raymond is filing to get partial custody of their two sons after their oldest son nearly drowned in a pool Monday.
Raymond filed documents Tuesday in the Fulton County Superior Court and was granted an emergency hearing for Friday regarding custody of Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Raymond, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
She states in the motion that the Grammy award winning R&B singer, who was awarded custody of the children in August 2012, is not providing adequate supervision of the children when he is traveling on work-related obligations.
“(Usher) leaves the minor children in the care of a third-party approximately 85% of his parenting time due to his work related schedule, yet refuses to allow the children to remain in my physical custody while he is out of town,” Raymond stated in the motion.
Raymond says that this lack of supervision caused the near-death swimming pool accident Monday.
Usher Raymond V was at a home on Howell Mill Road under the supervision of his great-aunt Rena Oden when the 5-year-old got stuck in the pool’s drain. Oden, a maid, and two contract workers were able to pull the boy out of the pool. Contract worker Eugene Stachurski, 35, of Atlanta conducted CPR and was able to revive the boy, according to a police report obtained by The AJC.
The boy was taken to the intensive care unit of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite hospital and is undergoing treatment for his injuries, according to Raymond’s court filing.
Raymond said via Twitter Wednesday afternoon, “I’m so happy to say that my son is doing much better. Talking and asking for food.”
In a statement Wednesday night, Usher said he’s “blessed and fortunate” that his son is recovering, the Associated Press reported.
“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of prayers, love and support for my family’s well-being. I would like to thank my Aunt Rena as well as the doctors and nurses who are working with us around the clock,” he said in a statement issued through a spokeswoman. “I would especially like to thank the two men who saved my son’s life, Eugene Stachurski and Ben Crews. They are true heroes and I am deeply grateful to them.”
Monday's water scare came a little more than a year after the death of Kile Glover, the 11-year-old son of Tameka Raymond. Kile died two weeks after being critically injured in a Lake Lanier boating accident.
Raymond claims other grievances in her court filings. She states she was not consulted before Usher V was enrolled in a school an hour from their father’s home, claiming the travel time is too far. She also states she was not consulted in regards to the hiring and firings of the children’s caregivers, according to the report.
Raymond is looking for temporary primary custody of the children and temporary final decision-making authority with regards to the children’s education, health care, religion and extracurricular activities.
Usher’s lawyers did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger is set to hear the case Friday.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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