LAKE DALLAS — A Lake Dallas Middle School seventh grade student attempted suicide on campus Thursday.
A 14-year-old student from the same school killed himself at home last month.
And a 17-year-old from Lake Dallas High School took his life in February.
It's a troubling trend for parents and for the district's superintendent, who says social media may have played a key role in the series of tragic events.
The calm at Lake Dallas Middle School Friday morning belied what unfolded at the school Thursday. Officials said a 7th grade boy made repeated attempts to commit suicide on campus.
He survived.
The student was said to have been despondent over the suicide death of his 14-year-old friend.
A 10th grade Lake Dallas student had also committed suicide in recent weeks.
Kathy Sasser said her son was friends with both boys. "He's very sad," Sasser said "He did know the 10th grader as well. It's just... you hug on them and love them and tell them everything can be helped, because it's very scary."
While no specific reasons or connections are being given for the suicides, Lake Dallas ISD Superintendent Gayle Stinson issued this statement:
"As an educator and as a parent, it is my opinion that social networking can have a negative effect on children if used inappropriately. It's a powerful tool that can have a lasting effect in the hands of impressionable young people."
There has been no other elaboration on Stinson's comments, but parent Pam Claussen says her daughter was talking about it.
"There were text messages going back-and-forth about the reasoning behind this one, which I don't know if it's true, but it had something to do with Facebook and some messages that were left," she said.
Until details can be shared, the motivation behind the tragedies are subject to speculation. But what is certain is that parents in this quiet community on the shore of Lewisville Lake are still in shock and on high alert.
"I just know that the Lake Dallas community is taking it hard, and it's a hard time for us," said parent Shelley Rover.
Lake Dallas ISD had already set up a teen crisis panel on coping with teen suicide. It will take place next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Lake Dallas High School.
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
