Seventh Grader Died by Suicide. Family Says School Didn’t Protect Him

The family of a 13-year-old boy who died by suicide five months ago is filing a legal claim against a California school district, alleging that officials did not do enough to stop the alleged bullying he experienced.

“I watched my son die,” Orsolya Palacios, the mother of Gabriel Palacios, said at a news conference announcing the complaint against the Coronado Unified School District on Thursday, Sept. 18, NBC affiliate KSND reported. “Gabriel did not deserve this. No one deserves this, and it needs to be stopped.”

Gabriel, a 7th grade student at Coronado Middle School, was neurodivergent and had Tourette’s syndrome and ADHD, ABC affiliate KGTV and CBS affiliate KFMB reported. His condition, according to his family, made him a target for bullying at school and online. 

John Gomez, the family’s attorney, said the alleged bullying intensified when Gabriel accidentally shared a video with his Snapchat contacts that included nude images of himself, KSND reported. Gomez said the teen made the video because of concerns he had about an area near his private parts.

According to the family’s legal claim, another student allegedly saved the video and threatened to share it, per KGTV. After the family notified the school, officials said they approached the other student, who denied knowing about the incident, KSND reported. 

“To the best of our knowledge, CMS did not take any further action against stopping the video, investigating the allegations or stop the bullying from continuing,” Gomez said, according to KSND.

The family’s claim also alleged that Coronado Middle School was aware of Gabriel’s declining emotional state — noting that he ate lunch at a counselor’s office every day to avoid being bullied by other kids — but did little to help, per KGTV. 

“My son Gabriel was beautiful, smart, fun and above all, kind and loving,” Orsolya said during the press conference, KFMB reported. She added that she witnessed her son’s spirit “extinguish” and his confidence “shatter” as the alleged bullying worsened. 

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PEOPLE contacted the Coronado Unified School District on Monday, Sept. 22, for comment. In a statement shared with KSND, the district wrote: “The Coronado Unified School District is aware of the legal matter currently pending. However as a matter of policy, the district does not comment on ongoing or pending litigation.”

“We remain committed to transparency and will provide updates as appropriate once the legal process has concluded,” the district’s statement continued. 

PEOPLE also reached out to Gomez, the family’s attorney, on Monday.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.