A 13-year-old Stillwater Junior High student committed suicide in the hallway of the school early Wednesday morning, in front of six other students, according to school officials.
Stillwater police have identified the 8th grade student as Cade Poulos, who is described as a good student who had never reported a bullying incident to the school.
Police say Poulos shot himself in the hallway around 7:50am. The schools were placed on a temporary lock down. School officials moved the junior high students to Cimarron Plaza for parents to pick up.
"There is no indication at this time that bullying played a role in this incident," the district said in a statement. "But the district will continue to monitor the situation and cooperate with the investigation being conducted by Stillwater Police Department. It appears the incident at the junior high was isolated and there is no indication that additional students at the junior high were involved or that students at other school sites were ever in immediate danger."
Stillwater police say they train for an event like this in hopes that it never happens. However, they say because of the training of officers and school employees, they were able to have the scene completely under control within less than 10 minutes.
Counselors are being made available to students and faculty, and a discussion session for students and parents will take place Wednesday night at Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Stillwater. Information on counseling is also available on Stillwater schools' website and will be sent home with students.
Students will go back to class at Stillwater Junior High Thursday, but staff will meet before classes on Thursday morning to discuss how to address questions and security.
"It is imperative that our district ensures all students and staff have the proper resources to help them work through the healing process following such a tragedy," said Stillwater Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ann Caine. "The entire family of Stillwater Public Schools is deeply saddened by the death of Stillwater Junior High School student."
The school has about 760 students in 8th and 9th grades. The school says it has a strict bullying policy, and students are urged to report any bullying. So far this school year, Stillwater Junior High has had no bullying reports. There were ten last year. Police officers are working with the school to interview witnesses.
A Facebook page has been set up as a tribute to Cade, and already it has close to 4,000 likes.
FOX23 will have more information as it becomes available.
