A gay New Mexico teen reportedly commit suicide after being subjected to intense bullying from his classmates.
Seventeen-year-old Carlos Vigil posted a note to Twitter before he decided to take his own life. Segments of that note have been cited by the Latin Post, the Daily Mail and Queerty, among other media outlets.
The New York Daily News reports that Vigil, who would have been a senior at Albuquerque's Valley High School this fall, was taken off of life support at the University of New Mexico Hospital on July 16.
Meanwhile, Carlos' mother Jacqueline Vigil told local news channel KRQE 13 that her son had been bullied since he was at least 8 years old.
“He had this lunchbox, a smiley face lunchbox, and people thought it was the funniest lunchbox ever, and they made fun of him for it,” Jacqueline is quoted as saying. “They grabbed it on the school bus and just threw it on the floor and broke it. It's just little things like that.”
Carlos' father Ray Vigil echoed those sentiments to NBC affiliate KOB-TV, noting, "We found out three years ago that he was going through this stuff and we've been trying to help him every day since. We realize he's been going through it every day since he was in the third grade, that's a long time for a child to hold that within himself."
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or visit stopbullying.gov. You can also visit The Trevor Project or call them at 866-488-7386.
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