Evanston School death Ruled a Suicide

The death of 10-year old Aquan Lewis has been ruled a suicide by the medical examiner but Evanston police Cmdr. Tom Guenther described the matter as an ongoing "death investigation.” This turn of events has left friends and family with only more questions, perhaps the biggest being: could he have actually committed suicide? 

A tearful Angel Marshall, Aquan's mother, said "My baby did not kill himself," and "You all need to get in that school and look at that stall." as she left the school. Her attorney has said that they may ask for another autopsy because the police investigation was incomplete when the M.E ruled it a suicide and the ruling was made to quickly. 

According to the Chicago Tribune a source has said that a footprint was on the toilet in the stall where he was found, they believe he stepped up and hanged himself from the coat hook. Sources also said that he had threatened to take his own life earlier in the day after being scolded by a teacher, however this begs the question: why did no one pay attention to such a threat? 

Ronald Davidson, a faculty member in the University of Illinois at Chicago's department of psychiatry said: 

"This underscores the need for teachers and school administrators and anyone who works with kids to pay attention to what children tell them,”

Child suicides are rare, according to 2005 statistics only about 36 children between the ages of 9 and 11 committed suicide nationally. 

In another turn of events the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the school for possible neglect based on a complaint they received regarding the death. There have been no previous complaints against the school or the family.