Feb 19, 2009 6:06 am US/Eastern
Shock, Sorrow Engulf The Dalton School
17-Year-Old Boy Plunged 11 Stories To His Death; Grief Counselors In Place To Handle Distraught Students
Cops Say Incident A Suicide; Fellow Students: No Warning Signs
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Police officers stand outside The Dalton School on New York's Upper East Side after a 17-year-old boy fell to his death on Feb. 18, 2009.
CBS
On Wednesday night many students and parents at one of New York's most elite private schools were having heart to heart talks.
That's because a student jumped from an 11th story window to his death earlier in the day.
It happened in front kids while they were out for recess at The Dalton School on the Upper East Side.
CBS 2 HD was at the school, located at 108 E. 89th St. off of Park Ave. on Wednesday, where a small memorial was growing.
Students left flowers, candles and cards on the slick sidewalk where a 17-year-old's life ended. It was an 11-story plunge from the window of the school's dance studio, which was empty at the time.
"I just heard him fall and I heard the children," witness Cricket Burns said. "And the children all screamed and they all saw it.
"Literally, he fell inches from a couple of them."
Police ruled it a suicide, one that happened in full view of fourth graders who spent 11 a.m. recess out in front of the school as a plan was put in place to get counseling on site for everyone. Parents picked up their kids right away.
"Everybody's upset and wants to be with their children," one parent said. "It is awful."
"It just breaks the heart," added Rev. Gregory Fryer of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
An emergency meeting of the board of trustees was held Wednesday night. The main goal now for educators, counselors and parents is to talk to students and deal with their questions, anger and hurt in the aftermath of this tragedy.
"Certainly parents should look at this as a cautionary tale in that we have many children who may be at risk for depression," child psychologist Jeffrey Gardere said, "and certainly for suicidal thoughts.
"If you're having issues of sadness or depression or other conflicts in your life talk to us at the school but talk to us most importantly as your parents," Gardere added.
The 17-year-old was active in football, track and the math league. His distraught fellow students said they saw no warning signs to explain the way he died.
Gardere also said while we may never know the young man's motives, his elite prep school is a place of great prestige and pressure. A statement from the Dalton School read: "Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family." It went on to say on-site grief counseling and support are now in place.
The Dalton School is an independent co-education day school for students grades K-12. About 1,300 students attend the school.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
NYS Senate Votes To Immediately Expel Monserrate 1 min ago 
Looming Storm Likely To Bury NYC, Suburbs 36 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments