An 11-year-old girl in Texas reportedly took her own life this month after classmates harassed her about her family’s immigration status.
Jocelynn Carranza passed away on February 8, just three days after a suicide attempt at her home in Gainesville. The Latin Times reported that officials at Gainesville Intermediate School did not inform Carranza’s family about the ongoing harassment she was facing from classmates regarding her parents’ deportation.
It is also claimed that Carranza’s family was unaware of the fact that the bullying had escalated to such a degree that she required counseling sessions with the school counselor once or twice a week.
“It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,” her mother told KUVN.
The Gainesville Independent School District Police are said to be looking into the accusations of bullying. However, school authorities have not confirmed whether they had prior knowledge of the bullying incidents.
“Whenever we receive a report of bullying, we respond swiftly to ensure all students are safe physically and emotionally. While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts,” the district said in a statement to CNN.
Carranza’s funeral was on Wednesday.
[Feature Photo: KUVN]
