Sunday, November 24, 2013

Texas teen who committed suicide at school posted Facebook warning

Adrian Alvaresz, a 16-year-old dad to an infant son, appeared despondent in the post and said he was sorry for the pain he was causing. Alvaresz fatally shot himself at school Tuesday — an act classmates said they never expected.









Adrian Alvaresz, 16,  shot himself Tuesday  at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas.


Adrian Alvaresz, 16, shot himself Tuesday at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas.

Friends and family of a Texas teen are grieving after he committed suicide at school, warning hours earlier on Facebook that he was planning to take his own life.
Adrian Alvaresz, a 16-year-old dad to an infant son, wrote that he was sorry for the pain he was causing his mother and that he felt people in his life “put me to the side.”
He asked his friends to help his mom, his ex-girlfriend and his son “stay strong” after his death. He added that he would be his son's "angel" and "mentor," and whisper to him "Everything Was For The Good Of Everyone."
Alvaresz’s mom, Maria Consuelo Alcantara, said her son had called her Tuesday asking to leave his north Austin school early.
She said no and that he ended the conversation saying, “I love you, mom,” Alcantara told CBS affiliate KHOU-TV.
Mom Maria Consuelo Alcantara holds back tears as she speaks about the loss of her 16-year-old son.


Mom Maria Consuelo Alcantara holds back tears as she speaks about the loss of her 16-year-old son.

“I love you, too,” she replied to him in Spanish.

It was just before 1:30 p.m. at Lanier High School when students say Alvaresz was by himself in the courtyard during lunch. He took out a handgun from his hoodie and shot himself.
The school was put on temporary lockdown before students were dismissed early for the day.
Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said officials are investigating how the teen obtained the pistol. The school doesn’t have metal detectors.
Police locked down Lanier High School in north Austin after reports of a gun on campus.


Police locked down Lanier High School in north Austin after reports of a gun on campus.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family,” said Carstarphen, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Along with his pained Facebook post, the teen included a picture of himself holding a gun to his right cheek.
“All he did was post a Facebook status that he was gonna do it and then he did it,” Lanier junior Alexis Vasques told Fox affiliate KTBC. “People that knew him and people that were close to him were crying and sad for his loss.”

“I guess the thing was that no one took him seriously,” added classmate Diana Vazquez. “They thought, ‘No, he’s kidding. ... I don’t think he’ll do it.’”
Family and friends of Adrian Alvaresz walk  door-to-door in north Austin trying to raise funds to cover his funeral costs.


Family and friends of Adrian Alvaresz walk door-to-door in north Austin trying to raise funds to cover his funeral costs.

Friends have been collecting donations to help pay for Alvaresz’s funeral costs.
Alcantara said she doesn’t know why her son killed himself and wishes that she had picked up on the warning signs.
The school made grief counselors available to students.
For more information about preventing suicides, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Does The Bullying Ever Stop

N.J. teen's "suicide-homicide" crash driven by bullying?

(CBS) EDISON, N.J. - Authorities say a 15-year-old New Jersey boy committed suicide by veering his car into oncoming traffic, killing two others as well, and now sources tell CBS New York that the teen may have been driven to commit suicide due to bullying.
Family friends have identified the deceased teen as Srijan Saha, reports CBS New York. He was reportedly a sophomore at John P. Stevens High School in Edison.
Police say the 15-year-old was driving along a highway around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when he swerved into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into a Nissan Altima.
The teen was killed along with both men in the other car, driver Mohammed Zia, 46, and his brother-in-law Ali Behzad, 35, reports the station.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and Edison police said while the specific cause of the crash remained under investigation, it has been classified as a "suicide-homicide."
Saha's family told CBS New York they are overwhelmed with tremendous grief and are unable to speak about the tragedy. It is unclear how Saha, who was not old enough to have a license in New Jersey, got the keys to the family car.
Law enforcement sources tell the station that Saha left behind a message on his body, but have not revealed what it is.
Friends and fellow classmates at his high school said while Saha was outgoing, he had been withdr