Tragic Teen Kills Self After Being Bullied Over Poverty

Story ByLee Bullen,Sub EditorJoseph Golder,AgencyAsia Wire Report 

These images show the tragic 14-year-old student who reportedly killed himself because his classmates bullied him for being poor.

The teen, identified as Lu Shijie from the south-eastern Chinese city of Shanghai, was not performing well at school and his father received a concerned message from his teacher.

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

When the dad went to speak with Shijie about the situation, the teen said his teacher was prejudiced against him and that he had earlier been punished him for playing in class when everyone else was doing the same, according to local media.

The 14-year-old then became agitated and ran out of the house. When his dad chased after him, he found his son lying on the ground after it is thought that he poisoned himself.

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

Local media said the teen was rushed to the hospital, however, he died of respiratory failure the following day.

The grieving dad, who is divorced from Shijie’s mother, said he sent his son to live with his grandparents on a farm because he needed to travel for work and the family was struggling financially.

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

He also went to the school to speak with his son’s classmates where he was shocked to discover that Shijie was frequently bullied by other students.

The teen’s dad learned that students would mock Shijie for being poor and laughed at his clothes while taunting his grandfather for picking him up on a tricycle, according to reports.

The school denied the allegations of bullying but refused to comment on the student’s death, adding that the police investigation is ongoing and they do not want to interfere with the process.

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