Cincinnati Boy, 8, Commits Suicide After School Bullying

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An eight-year-old Cincinnati boy committed suicide January, 2017, after a bullying incident in the boy’s bathroom at his school left him unconscious for nearly eight minutes. He hung himself with a necktie two days later.

The attorneys for the child, who has been identified as Gabriel Taye, release a grainy surveillance video of the Carson Elementary School hall and entrance to the boy’s bathroom where the child was reaching out to shake the hand of another boy who shoved him viciously against the brick wall. The video did not show his head hitting the wall although his feet are seen slipping out from under him and lying on the floor.

Another child attempted to get help, others stepped over him, and finally a school administrator is seen walking into frame. At that point, nearly seven and a half minutes have past and the scene becomes active with school officials.

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Cincinnati Civil Rights Attorney, Jennifer Branch spoke with local media and explained the mother, Cornelia Reynolds, was obviously heartbroken and went on to describe Gabriel’s last days.

"Mom is really heartbroken that she didn't know what she needed to know to protect her son," she said.

Gabriel was vomiting the night of the attack January 24th. He stayed home January 25the returning to school on January 26th. He came home from school and his mother found him two hours later.

Gabriel is seen in released pictures as happy, healthy, a good-looking, loved and loving child.

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A family friend released a statement, “He [Gabriel] was a shining light to everyone who knew and loved him. We miss him desperately and suffer every day without him. His life was stolen not only from him. But from those of us who expected to watch him grow.”

The boy told officials he had fainted. Clearly, fearing for his future safety he didn’t explain to the officials he was bullied, shoved, and pummeled.

He was found in his bedroom two days later.

Cincinnati officials who had ruled the death a suicide and did not file charges are reviewing evidence with the possibility of reopening the case.

*** National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255***

Sources: Various