Redmond Teen Left No Clear Clues In Suicide -- Questions, Grief Flow From Death Of Boy, 14

REDMOND - He didn't leave a note and he didn't say goodbye. He did well in school and didn't appear to have serious problems at home, at least no more so than a typical 14-year-old caught between childhood and adulthood.

So whatever Jason Paul Domenico's reason for taking his father's antique-reproduction revolver from its case and committing suicide on his way to band practice at Redmond Junior High yesterday, it may be a long time, if ever, before anyone understands.

The boy was the first teen in King County to take his own life in 1993, according to the medical examiner's office. Last year, 11 youths age 19 and under committed suicide.

Domenico was a quiet, well-liked student who played the saxophone in the school band. Just after 6:30 a.m., he stood outside the band room and shot himself in front of two female students and a parent.

Counselors who work with potentially suicidal teens say youngsters may not leave notes, but they often send messages.

They're unhappy, moody and often change personal habits. They may also try to tie up loose ends, squaring things with friends. "They may begin to give away favorite possessions," said Susan Eastgard, an administrator at the Crisis Clinic, which counsels suicidal teens.

But Domenico left no obvious clues. Teachers and students told police he behaved much as he always had. He had no criminal history and showed no signs of depression, police said.

Yesterday morning, he left for school before his parents left for work, taking the .44-caliber black-powder revolver from its case, according to Redmond police Sgt. George Potts.

The gun was not loaded. Potts said police don't know how he got ammunition.

His parents left for work, not knowing the gun was missing and unaware anything was wrong with their son, Potts said.

In fact, Potts was told, the only problem the parents could think of was that their son had been having difficulty with one class.

The Domenico family declined to be interviewed.

Many students left the school early yesterday, crying and walking through neighborhoods arm in arm. The school brought in extra counselors for the students and put on two sessions for parents yesterday to help them deal with grief and explain how to talk to their own children.

"What we're hearing from students is, `How do I deal with this loss?' " said Principal Billie Arneson.

Officers who responded to the shooting were also upset and have been offered counseling, Potts said. "Why would someone so young feel there was no need to continue his life? Why couldn't he have spoken to someone who might have helped him? These are questions that may never be answered," Potts said.

Investigator Joe Frisino of the medical examiner's office will be asking those questions.

"You're never going to be able to sit down and say, one, two, three, four, this is what happened and why," Frisino said.

About the only thing teen suicides have in common, he said, is that they don't realize that death is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

"Everything has to be right now," he said. "When you're that age, you think you're invincible." ---------------------------

HELP FOR TEENS

-- The Crisis Line provides 24-hour help for troubled teenagers and adults at 461-3222.