A tragic death

[BanningZ]

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) --

Eleven-year-old Jaheem Herrera woke up on April 16 acting strangely. He wasn't hungry and he didn't want to go to school.



But the outgoing fifth grader packed his bag and went to school at Dunaire Elementary School in DeKalb County, Georgia.

He came home much happier than when he left in the morning, smiling as he handed his mother, Masika Bermudez, a glowing report card full of A's and B's. She gave him a high-five and he went upstairs to his room as she prepared dinner.



A little later, when his younger sister called him to come down to eat, Jaheem didn't answer.

So mother and daughter climbed the stairs to Jaheem's room and opened the door.

Jaheem was hanging by his belt in the closet.

"I always used to see these things on TV, dead people on the news," says Bermudez. "I saw somebody die and to see this dead person is your son, hanging there, a young boy. ... To hang yourself like that, you've got to really be tired of something."

Bermudez says bullies at school pushed Jaheem over the edge. He complained about being called gay, ugly and "the virgin" because he was from the Virgin Islands, she said.


"He used to say Mom they keep telling me this ... this gay word, this gay, gay, gay. I'm tired of hearing it, they're telling me the same thing over and over," she told CNN, as she wiped away tears from her face.

But while she says her son complained about the bullying, she had no idea how bad it had gotten.

"He told me, but he just got to the point where he didn't want me to get involved anymore because nothing was done," she said.

Bermudez said she complained to the school about bullying seven or eight times, but it wasn't enough to save him.

"It [apparently] just got worse and worse and worse until Thursday," she said. "Just to walk up to that room and see your baby hanging there. My daughter saw this, my baby saw this, my kids are traumatized."

She said Jaheem was a shy boy just trying to get a good education and make friends. Video Watch what experts say about bullying in schools »

"He was a nice little boy," Bermudez said through her tears. "He loved to dance. He loved to have fun. He loved to make friends. And all he made [at school] were enemies."

Bermudez said she thinks her son felt like nobody wanted to help him, that nobody stood up and stopped the bullies.

"Maybe he said 'You know what -- I'm tired of telling my mom, she's been trying so hard, but nobody wants to help me,' " says Bermudez.

After Jaheem's death, the school board expressed condolences, saying the school staff "works diligently to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all students."

Trying desperately to understand what went wrong, Bermudez asked her son's best friend to recount what happened on the day Jaheem killed himself.

"He [said he was] tired of complaining, tired of these guys messing with him," Bermudez said, recalling the conversation with Jaheem's best friend. "Tired of talking, I think to his teachers, counselors and nobody is doing anything -- and the best way out is death."
Suicide hotline numbers
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

Allegations of such severe bullying surprises experts familiar with the school district. It's anti-bullying program was considered exemplary and includes programs to raise awareness and a specially trained liaison. Students are even asked to sign a no-bullying pledge. But other parents told CNN they have complained about bullying as well.

Despite recent strides towards preventing bullying in schools and increased awareness programs, a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network study showed that 65 percent of teens are bullied each year and most believe adults can't help them.

Less than a month before Jaheem's death, a boy in Massachusetts killed himself after being bullied, harassed and called "gay."

Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, says to be effective, awareness programs need to include education about the harm that can be done by teasing someone about sexuality or perceived sexuality.

"Anti-gay language is really the ultimate weapon for a bully who wants to degrade his or her peers," she says. "And any effective response to bullying has to take that on."

Bermudez doesn't understand why the children at school couldn't learn to get along. Because of it, she'll never get to see her son grow up.

"My baby, that's my only boy, and I lost him now," says Bermudez. "He was my first child and ... to lose him 11 years after, he didn't live his life."
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She hopes her son's death will result in positive changes that will help other kids being bullied.

"Those that are being bullied -- they need to talk to their parents, they need to not hold back," she says. "I lost my son and now something has to be done."

My bullied son's last day on Earth - CNN.com

[NA&CH]

Thats horrible Young punks...

Chris

[frost]

geeze, hard to believe he's only 11.

[eXo5]

Thats the saddest thing I have heard in a very long time. The ****** up thing is they will probably go on and on about obamas puppy and lidsey lohan. I doubt this story will get very much coverage. Its as if people want to act like this stuff doesnt happen and our society is past something as "simple" as bullying.

[m4a1mustang]

That's sad. Sometimes I can't help but think how much the world sucks.

[semtex]

Saw this in the local news. CNN's story is leaving out some details disclosed by the local reports that just has my blood boiling. The school officials only care about covering their asses. Get this, this kid had been keeping a journal in which (according to his sister) he had documented each time he complained at school, what their response was, etc. They refused to hand the journal over to the kid's mom until 5 hours after the death, and the mom says many pages have been ripped out of the journal. The school board expressed condolences? Please! The school board is trying to cover up its gross negligence and wanton disregard for this child's well-being. Are you guys familiar with the 'pick and bind' technique? That's what some weasel-a$$ school official needs done to him (or her). Like I said, this story makes my blood boil.

[dad]

^that's removing proof/evidence, to try and avoid a law suit!

[Crash]

Horrible. I had school bully problems when I was in Jr High. I told my dad and he and his giant co-workers showed up in their enormous king-cab truck and bullied the bullies around after school. Needless to say, that never happened again.

[simota1]

thats sooo horrible and sad....

[mrarroyo]

The bullies, their parents, and the school officials are all liable. Besides a huge settlement they should be publicly flogged. Yes, I wrote flogged.

[shabarivas]

Originally Posted by simota1

thats sooo horrible and sad....

Man why do you have to bump this hella old sad story..

[lando76]

my son is only 3 but he unfortunately was born with some medical problems. Nothing like a deformity but I am dredding the day he has to go to school. I know kids are mean and my son has been through so much already. I will make sure if he starts having problems to confront the school first and if nothing is done than I will find the kids myself and scare the living chit out of them as they will never bully anyone again till the day they die. I will do anything for my son.

[Crash]

Originally Posted by lando76

my son is only 3 but he unfortunately was born with some medical problems. Nothing like a deformity but I am dredding the day he has to go to school. I know kids are mean and my son has been through so much already. I will make sure if he starts having problems to confront the school first and if nothing is done than I will find the kids myself and scare the living chit out of them as they will never bully anyone again till the day they die. I will do anything for my son.

That's the best thing a father can do! Your children will remember those things you do for them no matter how big or small.