Counselors have been offering comfort to the De Soto Junior High School community following news that a seventh-grade student took his own life Friday afternoon (March 4) at his home.
De Soto Police received a call at about 4 p.m. that day about “a possible gunshot wound” in the 300 block of N. Seventh Street, De Soto Police Chief Rick Draper said in a written statement.
He said officers had to force entry into the home and found a 13-year-old boy inside with a gunshot wound.
Valle Ambulance District transported the boy to Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City, and then he was flown to St. Louis Children’s Hospital where he died later in the evening, Draper said.
He said police investigated the scene and determined that the boy took his own life.
“It is the determination of this investigation that the wound the 13-year-old sustained was self-inflicted,” Draper said. “Our agency will not be identifying the child’s name; we will leave that to the family. Our hearts go out to the family in this very tragic time.”
De Soto School Superintendent Trish Burkeen and assistant superintendent Josh Isaacson said they did not know any factors that might have led to the tragedy.
Counselors from Comtrea, Moving Mountains Counseling, the junior high and other district buildings, as well as area ministers, went to the school Monday to talk with anyone who sought help, officials said. The school, 731 Veterans Blvd., has 465 students enrolled there.
“I would say there were about a dozen students, staff and faculty who sought the counseling and support,” Burkeen said. “We set up ‘quiet areas’ where they could meet with counselors.”
She said the district would offer the support for as long as it is needed.
“We continue to try to provide outlets for anybody to reach out to us no matter what is going on in their lives,” she said.
Isaacson said staff met early Monday morning to talk about how to help students.
“There was a faculty meeting held before school at 6:45,” he said. “The faculty members were briefed on our plans to respond to the tragedy.”
Part of the plan is to keep parents informed.
“We are sending home a letter to all parents of students of (De Soto Junior High School) regarding policies and processes – assistance from the counselors and individuals from community agencies and churches,” Isaacson said. “We handed out forms for tips for teachers, as well as students, for their well-being.”
He said a follow-up meeting for faculty was planned for Monday afternoon.
“We follow a crisis management plan in this situation,” he said.
Isaacson said the school district would not provide any information about the student.
“We express our condolences to the family,” he said.