Bullied 10-year-old commits suicide after school officials ‘didn’t have time’ to deal with his tormentor

A 10-year-old boy who went to an elementary school in New York was so terrified of a school bully that he committed suicide, Fox News reported.

Gianlukas “Lukas” Illescas reportedly pleaded with his family to let him stay home from school on the day he killed himself.

Illescas was a student at Hillcrest Elementary School in Peekskill, New York, where he was allegedly bullied for months while district officials “didn’t have time” to address the issue, according to his dad, Christian Illescas.

For six months, Illescas said he tried to get district officials to take action because his son was scared to go to school.

“Look! Look!” Illescas yelled at the board members while holding a picture of his son on his phone. “You didn’t have time? Five minutes. I don’t know how you can sleep. I don’t know how.”

In a GoFundMe post, Illescas wrote that his son was “robbed of his future” because of the district’s failure to act.

“Bullying is responsible for the death of a 10-year-old child!” Illescas wrote. “He will never get to graduate with his friends, make memories alongside his family, and have a life full of choices and adventure! His family and friends are heartbroken and beyond devastated.”

Speaking to ABC News, Illescas said his son was “relentlessly bullied by one child.”

“I have nothing to lose,” Illescas said. “My son is gone, so all I want right now is justice for other kids.”

While the school said it’s investigating the matter and sent its condolences to the family, protesters who packed into Tuesday’s meeting say the reaction is too little, too late.

“All these parents are here. There are witnesses,” one parent yelled at the board. “And we are not taking that anymore. A 10-year-old child had to suffer because of negligence? Because you didn’t take time?”

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.