A Florida middle school student committed suicide in the bathroom last week after allegedly enduring bullying from fellow students.
Lamar Hawkins III, 14, used his father’s gun to shoot himself Wednesday at Greenwood Lakes Middle School, reports WESH. The family told the local news station the weapon had been stored properly.
Shaniqua Hawkins, Lamar’s mother, said the family moved from New York to Florida to escape bullying, but it continued despite the move.
Lamar, who was called Shaq by family, had stunted growth. His mother believes this made him an easy target for bullies.
“I felt paralyzed by the inability to make the bullying stop at school,” she told WESH. “I watched him walk out the door of our home and knew there was a very good chance others would be cruel to him.”
Hundreds of community members gathered at a vigil for Hawkins last week.
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