School releases video of bullying assault that may have prompted 8-year-old’s suicide

Cincinnati Public Schools have released video footage from school surveillance cameras showing a bullying incident that an 8-year-old boy’s family believes prompted his suicide.

Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV

As Crime Online previously reported, Gabriel Taye’s mother found him dead by hanging in his bedroom on January 26. Two days prior, Gabe was a victim of an apparent violent bullying incident at school that left him unconscious on the school’s bathroom floor before an adult employee intervened.

It is possible that Gabe was targeted by the bully because he was trying to keep him from hurting other students.

The above video, obtained by WCPO Cincinnati, shows the little boy as he appears to be attacked by the bully, and then as he lies motionless on the ground while more students come in and out of the bathroom, some possibly striking the unconscious boy. Eventually a student summons the help of an adult.

Gabriel’s family attorney Jennifer Branch told Fox 19 earlier this week that the school did not inform the boy’s mother about the bullying — telling her only that he had fainted.

“Mom is really heartbroken that she didn’t know what she needed to know to protect her son,” Branch said.

A school spokesperson has since told the Associated Press that Gabriel did not tell school officials he was bullied, and that they were not aware of the video recording until after his suicide.

Gabe became ill the night after the bullying incident, and his mother took him to the hospital. There, she was told he had a stomach flu.

Cincinnati Public Schools issued a statement along with the video:

“In an effort to be completely transparent, we are releasing the video that was reviewed as part of an investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department. As all are aware, no charges resulted from that investigation. We have uploaded the video, in its entirety, blurring our faces of the students who appear to protect their privacy.”

 

Photo: Handout