Southgate, MI 8th Grader Commits Suicide

This local story was just breaking when I left to run some errands late this morning.

Student suicide reported at Davidson Middle School in Southgate

8th grade boy found Thursday morning at school on Trenton Road

Published On: Mar 21 2013 09:21:34 AM EDT Updated On: Mar 21 2013 01:25:51 PM EDT

SOUTHGATE, Mich. -
An eighth-grade student at Davidson Middle School in Southgate committed suicide in the building Thursday morning.

Superintendent William Grusecki said another student found the boy in bathroom. He had died from a gunshot wound.

Grusecki said the school was put on lock down while emergency crews responded...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...ate/-/1719418/19408612/-/e13wk9z/-/index.html



March 21, 2013 at 2:06 pm

Note found after student commits suicide at Southgate school

By Jennifer Chambers and Lauren Abdel-Razzaq
The Detroit News

Southgate — An eighth-grader brought a gun to Davidson Middle School on Thursday and committed suicide in an upstairs bathroom, police and school officials say.

The student, who they identified as a 13-year-old, shot himself once in the head with a .40 caliber Glock handgun before 8 a.m. classes began at the school. Another student found the boy in the bathroom and told a teacher, thinking he had a head injury.

"This was an isolated incident with just that student," superintendent Bill Grusecki said Thursday at a press conference.

Grusecki said staff had no idea the student, whom he described as being "somewhat popular," had a gun at the school located at 15800 Trenton Road, which doesn't have metal detectors. Roughly 800 students attend the school.

Grusecki added the student hadn't complained of being bullied and that school officials didn't know what motivated the boy to commit suicide...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130321/SCHOOLS/303210418#ixzz2OChvt1DT

very sad. I wonder what was so horrible that death seemed the only out? Such a waste, so tragic.

March 21, 2013 3:55 PM

Teen Commits Suicide In Middle School Bathroom

SOUTHGATE (WWJ) - A 14-year-old student was found dead in a bathroom before class began Thursday at Davidson Middle School in Southgate.

Public Safety Director Thomas Coombs said the 8th grade boy died immediately of single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was discovered by a friend.

Student Caleb Ortega said the teen had been bullied by classmates who made fun of his clothing and personal hygiene, but Coombs said they have found no evidence of depression or bullying...

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/03...cy-at-southgate-middle-school/#at_pco=cfd-1.0

Want to know what is going on at school? Ask a student. All due respect, I tend to believe fellow student rather than Coombs. Student is going to know more than Coombs IMO.

Very sad. So sick of bullying and its continuing tragic effects.

Another fellow student said, "He was a good person," said Waad Thabet, a 13-year-old classmate. "He was friends with everybody; no one hated him. Everyone liked him."

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/03/vigil_planned_for_southgate_da.html

BetteDavisEyes said:

"This was an isolated incident with just that student," superintendent Bill Grusecki said Thursday at a press conference.

Click to expand...

Snipped and BBM. One incident is more than too much.

fellow students doing vigil in school parking lot tonight.

http://www.freep.com/article/20130321/NEWS02/130321038/

generally well liked but some students say there were issues

While Grusecki said the boy was “somewhat popular,” some students told The Southgate News-Herald that he was depressed and was being bullied. One student claimed he said he wanted to take his own life.

There were also reports that his parents may have been going through a divorce.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...school-police-article-1.1295051#ixzz2ODhXtxZK

Students told The News-Herald Newspapers the teen said he was depressed because he was being bullied. One classmate, who said he spoke to the student prior to the shooting, said the teen said he was thinking of taking his life.

http://www.heritage.com/articles/2013/03/21/heritagewest/news/doc514b30c78a659170424400.txt

He had not reported having any problems of bullying to school staff

“We don’t have a very good idea of what happened yet,” Southgate Community Schools Superintendent Bill Gruscki said, who said they don’t have any indication that the youth was being bullied.

http://www.thetimesherald.com/artic...-14-committed-suicide-Southgate-middle-school

Fellow student Kaleb Ortega said the teen had been bullied by classmates who made fun of his clothing and personal hygiene — but Coombs said they have found no evidence of depression or bullying.

Coombs said a note was found, but it contained nothing to indicate why the teen took his own life.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/03/21/developing-emergency-at-southgate-middle-school/

If police can find the reason for the boy’s action, the district could use that information to help someone in the future who might be dealing with personal issues, Coombs said.

Several students told media outlets earlier in the day that they believed the boy was bullied. Coombs said if the investigation shows that is the case, police will determine who played what role and to what extent the boy was picked on before proceeding with any charges.

“We’ve spoken to quite a few students and teachers,” Coombs said. “They’ve indicated that does not appear to be the case.”

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2013/03/21/news/doc514b5816dd64d435577977.txt?viewmode=2

too soon to tell if bullying was a factor and if so, how much of one. I wonder if the information about his parents in the middle of divorcing is accurate? That too, could be a factor in what was going on in his mind.

Such a shame.

:wave: hello down there you lurking guests Yes you. :wave:

Join Weblseuths and join the conversation.

I really think we're missing something when we keep attributing "bullying" to all children's suicides.

When you miss the CAUSE of suicides, you miss the chance to prevent and predict them for future kids in need.

My guess is, if the students and teachers in middle and high schools were to list the 20 most bullied students in their schools, it would be RARE to find a suicide among them. Bullying makes life incredibly miserable and horrible for the victims, but the most bullied in a school seem to very, very rarely commit suicide.

I know in my school when I was a kid, there were kids who were mercilessly tormented, and they didn't resort to suicide. Other kids did, who had depression but were generally well liked. And depression isn't situational - that is, you can't say "I'm depressed because of such and such". Depression is a chemical brain thing.

Also, in central Texas the media doesn't carry stories of students who commit suicide. Other kids will follow on the heels of this child, and we will lose more promising young people because they just seem to follow suit with suicide and don't have the judgement and maturity to realize this isn't the answer.

Prayers for the other children in that school, and prayers for the family of this young man. Reading the descriptions he was well-liked and lovable. Such a sad, sad loss.

BetteDavisEyes said:

March 21, 2013 3:55 PM

Teen Commits Suicide In Middle School Bathroom

SOUTHGATE (WWJ) - A 14-year-old student was found dead in a bathroom before class began Thursday at Davidson Middle School in Southgate.

Public Safety Director Thomas Coombs said the 8th grade boy died immediately of single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was discovered by a friend.

Student Caleb Ortega said the teen had been bullied by classmates who made fun of his clothing and personal hygiene, but Coombs said they have found no evidence of depression or bullying...

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/03...cy-at-southgate-middle-school/#at_pco=cfd-1.0

Click to expand...

Interesting comment after article. I'm so sorry that this young man felt this was his only option. Rest in paradise young man.

Southgate Schools make security changes following suicide

Backpacks searched, no backpacks allowed at school

Published On: Mar 22 2013 08:36:53 AM EDT

SOUTHGATE, Mich. -
The Southfield School District is quickly making security changes following Thursday's suicide of 13-year-old Tyler Nichols who shot and killed himself in the bathroom of Davidson Middle School.

Teachers will search backpacks. Student will have to carry books outside of a bag. Wearing bulky clothes is banned...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...cide/-/1719418/19424444/-/4o3k4l/-/index.html



March 22, 2013 at 10:20 am

8th-grader's suicide at Southgate school stuns community

Shocked students, others attend vigil for Southgate teenager

By Jennifer Chambers, Lauren Abdel-Razzaq and Tony Briscoe
The Detroit News

Southgate — Class had just begun Thursday morning at Davidson Middle School when an eighth-grade student slipped out of his classroom and got a gun.

There, on the second floor of the school with 800 students and a staff of teachers and administrators inside, the 13-year-old boy entered a bathroom and pulled the trigger — committing a very public suicide that left students, school officials and the community searching for answers.

"I give credit to the first responders. The staff that found him … I have a vision in my mind that is never going to leave me," Southgate school Superintendent Bill Grusecki said.

Why the teen took his life was unclear Thursday night, as about 300 students, parents and teachers formed a circle outside Anderson High School during a vigil in his honor...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130322/SCHOOLS/303220373#ixzz2OHXdTWHz