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Subscribe to RSSA New Hampshire elementary school was placed under lockdown Friday after a 14-year-old student shot himself in the face in the cafeteria with about 70 students present, NBC station WPTZ reported.
Cheshire County Attorney Peter Heed said Friday the gunshot was self-inflicted. The shooting happened around 11 a.m. at Walpole Elementary School in Walpole. The boy was hospitalized, but his name and condition were not released. No one else was hurt, according to WPTZ.
"Our hearts go out to the family of this young man and our thoughts go out to all of the students that were in the school at this time," Heed said at a news conference. He did not say what kind of gun the student used or where he might have obtained it. He also did not offer any information on why the student shot himself.
As of Friday afternoon, the student was in serious condition in the intensive care unit.
Ethan Symonds, a seventh-grader who was sitting at a table near the boy in the cafeteria, said he heard something "a little bit louder than a chip bag popping." He said he did a double-take, saw blood and ran.
Eighth-grader Nick Phillips, who shares homeroom with the student, told WPTZ the boy had been passing notes during the week saying he was depressed. Phillips told the station he didn't know why.
Police allowed parents to retrieve their children.
"The state of New Hampshire is offering whatever assistance it can to the community, along with all of our thoughts and prayers," Gov. John Lynch said in a statement.
About 170 students in fifth through eighth grades attend the school.
Walpole is in southwest New Hampshire, a few miles from the Vermont state line and about 15 miles northwest of Keene.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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How sad. Kids, you need to tell someone when you get to feeling like this. Let someone help you. I pray he will recover from this & get the help he needs.
The sad thing is, it appears he WAS trying to tell people. The fellow student said he was passing notes about being depressed. Seems like no one helped.
People don't listen. You tell your family how you feel and they just ignore it nowadays. No one believes that anyone who isn't an "adult" can be depressed. How are they supposed to get help, if when they ask for it, no one is paying attention. :( Adults need to listen more, and everyone needs to take this more seriously.
A sad sign of sad times. Depression and suicide are a regular part of the world but lately it does seem much higher. And there is SO LITTLE warmth anywhere these days. I'd love to see America become kinder and more thoughtful, it's so mean spirited now. Way too many angry, self-righteous and cruel people who think humanity is a useless, quaint word. There's never been a better time for a new Love Generation than now.
Ban handguns.
Same thing happened in my town to a 15 yo in middle school. Haven't heard why, so every body guesses. I would imagine his best friend knows why. The boy in my town died of his wounds, and they had the funeral at the school. It does affect all the kids, my Grand Nephew was his friend, and he is struggling. When a kid reaches out to his friends, that he is depressed, this can happen very quickly--they need help immediately.
Suicide in the cafeteria? Really? Come on kid.
.
Why don't they just "ban" handguns from schools???......oh wait.....um....yea...just ban them and get them off the streets like they did with drugs in the 40 year drug war.
He was on school property where guns are already baned.
No- don't ban guns: If every child had been armed (and trained in the use of weaponry mind you) one of them could have shot the gun out of his hand and prevented this from happening. Meanwhile one of the teachers could have come up with a reefer and helped him toke up so he could calm down & relax until the police & medics arrived.
A reefer?
But you're right. If all the other children had been armed, they could have shot him to stop him from shooting himself. See? Guns eliminate violence.
(Is that how that logic works? Seems kind dumb.)
This is very depressing. I hope this young soul survives. In another incident today after school in a high school in California, a 15 year old boy jumped to his death from a school building.
The social networking online today makes it so much harder for students - so much pressure out there. Sigh. Such a tragedy.
What, you mean like all the gun control laws that made him safe?
"The social networking online today makes it so much harder for students - so much pressure out there. Sigh. Such a tragedy."
It could be family problems. I have two daughters and a son. My son is one of those strong silent types. He holds everything in and rarely shows emotion. Luckily, he is very intelligent, popular, and has a good grasp on just about everything. But when he was in second grade (8 yrs old) I had a serious stroke that left me disabled. That was 13 years ago, so he's 21 now and I'm still here. But he changed completely back then when it happened. He lived with the fear that I wasn't going to, and for a while, that dragged him down, his schoolwork suffered, his social life suffered, no telling what else as that was only what we could see. He bounced back after a couple of years, but it was amazing how much it affected him, even though I didn't die.
Think of how kids must be affected by family economic trouble, for instance. Families on the verge of becoming homeless, unable to find help or even hope. Even if you think they're too young to understand, they know when SOMETHING is wrong, and even if they don't say it, it has a profound effect on them.
PS; In my own case, as in most families, my daughters were closer to their mom, and talked thing out with her. My son was closer to me, but didn't want to talk about it at all. Talking WOULD have helped.
This shouldn't surprise anyone. Half the people you try to talk to start yammering about jesus and tell you they'll pray for you. As if hand-mumbling to their god-myth will do any good... it's amazing how ignorant people have become.
How sad that the only way he thought he could solve his problem was by taking his own life.
I pray for his healing both physically and emotionally....
Please show me in the story where it said he died.
Please folks, read and COMPREHEND before you post.
It appears you did not read or comprehend what JMO2011 wrote. His first sentence describes what he believes the boys mindset was. The second sentence clearly implies that he knows that the boy is alive.
S-Man - what are you the grammar police? Sorry, my post meant to say "trying to take"...geez, get a grip!
JMO hit the nail on the head with every word he wrote. He did not say the student died in shooting himself. He said the student thought death was his only option. The student's attempt failed.
I agree, read and comprehend.
That was priceless S-man. Read and comprehend indeed.
JMO,
Sman was so busy being a smartarse that he failed to read and comprehend. Your post was dead on.
Thank you An Episcopalian - appreciate it....
As if suicide (or attempted suicide) is not selfish enough- this teenager decided to make 70 other students witness this and be scarred for life by the sight of this selfish act! I pray that all the witnesses recover and also that this teenager recovers mentally and physically and gets help.
ohiomommy3 - how sad you are a mommy. Your despicable post reflects your total lack of intelligence about the matter. This boy's act was not done out of selfishness but despair. Your post, however, was done out of pure ignorance.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to this young boy and his family and friends. I hope he recovers and is able to heal from this awful incident.
Wow, ohiomommy. A depressed child cries out for help, goes unheard, feels he has no other option than to take his life, and you call him selfish? I hope none of your brood ever suffer from any kind of mental illness. They'd get precious little empathy from you.
Agree 100% Mental illness for the person and their family is a special kind of hell I would wish on no one. Adult is bad enough, but a child with this illness is a tragedy too great for words.
Mommy - we don't know what this child was going through. Perhaps it was those same 70 kids who were bullying him everyday. The first thing should be we hope this child is okay. Secondly, find out what drove him to this.
I hope this wasn't another case of bullying. bullies suck!
No one knows the background... no one is intelligent about the matter... Yuu two are acting as if you raised the kid.
By the way... Despicable? Find a better word Daffy Duck.
It is sad that all you can think of doing is slamming the child.
markutk - Despicable was the perfect word - Goofy!
Who here is slamming the child? I must be missing something...
Maybe selfishness isn't the right word. He choose to attempt suicide in front of the people who did nothing to help him and the people who possibly teased him (I imagine). I think he did this out of spite.
No... Daffy Duck, not Goofy.
Suicide
- n
1. The selfish act of killing oneself.
Don't ever go to someone who is contemplating suicide and give him the guilt trip of being selfish. A person who is so bad off that he thinks about suicide needs help, not name calling.
I hope he's able to recover. When things like this happen I usually think the person was trying to reach out for help of some sort and nobody was listening. We need to acknowledge others and at least listen. Maybe if we can't help we can direct them to someone who can. We also need to look after the students on the campus. Maybe some counselors can be sent in to help the children that have been tramatized. And I'm trying to be rude but how did a 14 year old get on a elementary school campus? Many high schools in Texas have security which seems sad that our kids aren't even safe on school grounds. But I don't know if elementery or middle schools do.
ohiomommy--
This is the second time today I have read someone describe suicide as 'selfish'. And the logic behind this is that the person that takes their life is not thinking about how that would make YOU feel. Is that something Dr. Phil says? Because it is truly and utterly stupid.
The only thing you can say about someone attempting to take their life is that they didn't stop to think about how it would affect you. And you call that selfish? (I had to say that again to see if it made any more sense. It didn't). Good luck to your children. I think they're going to need it.
Wanker,
Just because you make up your own definition, or modify one to fit your beliefs, that does not make it accurate. Nice try though.
But suicide is selfish. You want your pain to stop, and don't think about pain it will cause for others you leave behind. It's the me mindset.
DGT, as the story says, this "elementary" school is actually a "middle school-jr. high" combination. I had to wonder myself when I first saw the name of the school. Then when I saw the Fifth through Eighth Grade make-up of the school, I realized the misnomer of the name of the school. That is why a 14 and 15 year old would be in that school. Yes, there are 15 y/o's still in the Eighth Grade in some schools.
How very sad. The state of TN, where I live, is trying to pass legislation that teachers are NOT ALLOWED to talk to students K5-8th grade about homosexuality...the "don't say gay" bill. Sometimes the teachers are the only ones the kids can talk to because they might have some crazy parents that beat the sh*t out of them for whatever reason. Sadly, this child didn't feel he could talk to anyone. So, so sad.
How do you equate homosexuality with this article. Quit promoting your own agenda. Given the way schools are these days the last person kids would confide in is a "teacher."
diverdown - what does being gay have to do with this article?
It never states why the kid was depressed - only that he was.
Not necessary to jump to conclusions.
I think the point was there are few who kids feel they can confide in and mentioned TN is trying to make it even worse for troubles kids.
A kid struggling is a kid struggling and needs help, regardless of what the issue is. It could be due to depression, homosexuality, bullying, etc. Diver is basically saying kids need to feel free to talk to people for help and lots of kids trust their teachers for comfort. If they are passing laws that specifically prohibit teachers from talking about certain issues, then it serves as a more damaging role then a helping one.
LOL - Diverdown~ I'm waiting for the juicy parts where everyone says the parents should be burned in the town square because the kid got the gun and it should have been locked up. Now because of them the NRA should be disbanded. Then it will come out that this could have been another Columbine - who cares that the storyline is no where even close - the fact that it COULD have been is more important. Then someone will say it was later found out that the kid was being molested by the priest, the gym teacher and Mr. Pluckett at the general store - and he only saw one way out - KILL HIMSELF!
Just let me go get some popcorn real quick before yall start! LMAO!
I agree, I don't think Diverdown was saying homosexuality had anything to with this but used it as an example. Jeez! I swear some of you scan these posts for opportunities to b*%tch at people!
muffdiverdown?
compassion for all involved.....
Please talk to your children and get involved in their emotional lives. The only way to help these kids is to be present. They are afraid to talk about what they are feeling at this age so it is up to us parents to get into their lives, into their minds, and into their emotions. The only way to do that is by spending a lot of time with them.
14 yr old still in Elementary school? Behind 5 years in school? Seriously?!?
5th-8th grades according to the article. So a middle school not a grade school.
Hey Nelzp what fuquing difference does that make? A kid shoots himself and you're concerned about why a 14 yr old is in elementary school? Totally irrelevant. What a cretin
It seems strange that this town would consider 8th graders to be elementary school. I'm guessing the kid was probably in the 8th grade, which in most places, would be middle school (junior high school). Anyway, very sad that a kid felt this way and subjected others to his unfortunate actions. I have contemplated suicide (even as an adult with children), but am glad I didn't follow through with such an action. It would be a selfish act, which would traumatize my children for life. I ended up on the right meds for mood disorder and I remind myself that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I hope this kid gets help and that the other students will learn from this unfortunate incident. Hang in there!
Nelzp - Surprised? Is that not the "in" thing now?
Netzp --
My grandson is 9 years old in 3rd grade. (Just turned 9 in Jan.) That puts him right in line for being 14 at this stage of 8th grade. Perfectly average age.
Reading comprehension is a beautiful thing.
Guys....its a tiny school. Not uncommon for rural schools to have more grades than normal in the same building. I saw one that was k - 12 in the same school.
Eighth-grader Nick Phillips, who shares homeroom with the student, told WPTZ ........
An elementary school can include grade K through 8. The one I went to did. It was part of a two level school system and the next level was a four year high school. All school use to be this way.
Thoughts & Prayers for this young man, his parents & family and the students...
Oh Good Grief! Those damn prayers don't mean anything! Just a bunch of smoke and mirror crap! Putting hope and trust in the almighty invisible!
Segdirb, I'm about as atheist as you get, but come on, Peace is only providing consolation in a way that she (?) feels is most appropriate.
Your comment is equivalent to when religious folks come to our doors weekend mornings. It's rude and unwanted.
Agreed EngEsq -
Segdirb how do you want people to send their thoughts during this gut wrenching time for all involved in this incident? Can you even imagine what it would be like to be a friend, peer, parent, brother, or sister of this hurting child? That you stood by and did little if anything to help after you realized how this person was hurting? That they were serious? You can't second guess but act at the first whiff of this - you may be wrong but at least you say you care -
Caring is only human - we all choose different methods to display it - basic humanity in action.
I think the writer meant middle school but wrote elementary.
A quick "google" reveals that it is indeed named "Walpole Elementary School", and it houses grades 5 through 8.
The district my kids attended had one school that had grades 1-8 (elementary). At sixth grade they had the option of transferring to the district middle school. Most opted to stay in the elementary school.My grandkids go to K-3 in one school, switch to another for 4-6, then to another for 7-9. It's all a matter of semantics.
Awful, for him, his parents, and the other kids.
SMALL point: If they are 5th-8th grade, that is middle school, not elementary school.
Different geographic areas have elementary schools that house grades k-8 (students often turn 13 or 14, depending on when their birthdays are in relation to the school cut-off date, in 8th grade). I had never heard of "middle" schools until I moved away from my home town. It all depends on where you live.
Why are we still talking about this? Who cares how many kids of how many ages with how many abilities go to which schools?
Poor little fella - I hope he gets some help.... :(
you make him sound like he was a puppy that got hit by a car. instead its a 14 year old thats not very bright and decided to take a gun to school risking other kids that can deal with their problems.
If he doesn't dieof his wounds. He's not out of the woods.
How incredibly sad
There is nothing in this story to even hint that this kid was bullied, but if he was, I hope the bullies were real close and are traumatized for a very long time.
I hope this kid was a terrible shot, is fine, gets the help he needs and the peace he deserves.
Bullied. Are you kidding me. Can we add anything else for you. How bout....if his priest was sexually abusing him..I hope he was watching and is traumatized. Your comment is idiotic.
I attended a K-8 school. 6,7,8th grades were in a wing away from the younger students- but it was called elementary school.
Not that it matters - because a boy attempted to take his life in front of his classmates. Very sad for all involved.
Another dork with a gun.
@!$%#
The day is quickly coming when the youth of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and now Walpole, will decide it's time to stop the ridiculously easy access to firearms in this country and this kind of horrific event will be relegated to the history books.
Sadly, Jeremy spoke in class today...
It's sad to hear about another suicide attempt by a young person. I don't what is going on but I have been hearing or reading about suicides by people ages btw 14 and 25 at a rate that is alarming. Pls give youself a chance , talk to someone, think about what suicide is, a final decision that you cannot take back if you succeed. Things can and will work themselves out just don't toss in the towel so damn quickly.
Guess he got the attention he so badly wanted. If he really wanted to do it, he should have aimed for his brain.
Idk the face is pretty hardcore...
Like you did when you were younger. Not very nice, Mr. Binkie, but your online name is very apt.
As a teenager, I was dealing with depression of a chemical imbalance type. Back then (the '60s) nothing was known about depression in young people. I had one teacher who helped me throughout high school. He often said, "I don't know what to do, but I'll always be here to listen." To this day I thank him, literally, for being there for me when it seemed no one else was.
With all of the current problems with teacher/student relationships, let's hope that those caring teachers are allowed to 'be there' for troubled children of all types.
(I taught preschool and kindergarten in a fairly large city for several years, and a kindergarten student actually make a suicide attempt in the classroom.)
So true. One person can make a world of difference in life...now though the trouble is compounded with 'whom do I trust?'
This is why they should train kids in the proper use of firearms.
Are you kidding? Better training so his aim was better? Training wasn't the issue. Thais wasn't an ACCIDENT, it was INTENTIONAL.
Maybe the parents could have secured their firearms better than they did.
Jeremy has spoken.
MAN! This is so sad. Kids thinking it couldnt get any worse. It always gets better! People need to start watching out for their fellow people.
Thoughts and prayers...
What a dope.