Redmond Junior High Student Kills Himself At School -- Two Other Children, Parent Witness 14-Year-Old's Suicide

REDMOND - Two students and a parent witnessed the suicide of a 14-year-old Redmond Junior High School youth who shot himself in the head early this morning at the school.

Redmond Police Sgt. George Potts said the shooting took place on a covered walkway outside the band room about 6:35 a.m. Other students, some being dropped off by parents, were arriving for an early-morning practice of the school's jazz band and chorale.

Potts said the boy's parents had been contacted.

An investigation into the suicide was continuing.

The boy, who played saxophone in the school band, had walked to school this morning to attend band practice, Potts said. But instead of entering the band room, he pulled out a .44-caliber revolver and shot himself.

He did not say anything before committing suicide, nor did he leave a note, according to police, who don't know where he got the gun.

Teachers gathered in the school library as they arrived and were counseled on how to handle students when school opened, said Dan Youmans, Lake Washington School District public-information officer.

After classes started, students were told about the incident and instructed to report to the office if they wanted counseling.

Both of the girls who witnessed the shooting were sent home. Parents of some other students came to the school to pick up their children.

Students who knew the boy described him as shy and quiet, but also said he seemed friendly and happy. In addition to playing in the band, he was a student actor and appeared in the eighth-grade production of "David and Lisa" last year.

"From what I saw, he was happy," said Tamarah Weiss, 14. "It's sort of freaky. You don't think something like this can happen at your school, and then it does."

Norman McLean, chaplain with the Redmond Fire Department, was one of those who reported to the school to help with counseling.

Nobody, he said, had a clue as to why the boy took his life.

"Many of the students are asking `Why?' " McLean said. "They seem to be having the same response as we as adults would have.

"Words are a little inadequate right now."

Redmond police said this was believed to be the third student from Redmond who has committed suicide in the past five years.