The family of a 13-year-old boy who died by suicide five months ago is filing a legal claim against the Coronado Unified School District in California, alleging that school officials failed to intervene in the bullying he endured.
“I watched my son die,” said Orsolya Palacios, mother of Gabriel Palacios, during a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 18, announcing the complaint. “Gabriel did not deserve this. No one deserves this, and it needs to be stopped,” she added, her voice breaking as she addressed reporters.
Gabriel, a seventh-grade student at Coronado Middle School, was neurodivergent and had Tourette’s syndrome and ADHD, according to ABC affiliate KGTV and CBS affiliate KFMB. His family says these conditions made him a frequent target for bullying both in person and online.
The alleged harassment intensified after Gabriel accidentally shared a private video of himself on Snapchat, according to John Gomez, the family’s attorney. The video, which Gabriel created out of personal concerns regarding his body, was reportedly saved by another student who then threatened to distribute it further. After the family notified school officials, they were told the student denied knowledge of the incident, and no further action was taken.
“To the best of our knowledge, CMS did not take any further action to stop the video, investigate the allegations, or halt the bullying from continuing,” Gomez said.
Gabriel’s legal claim also asserts that the school was aware of his deteriorating emotional state. The boy reportedly ate lunch in the counselor’s office daily to avoid confrontation with peers, yet, according to his family, little was done to support him.
“My son Gabriel was beautiful, smart, fun and above all, kind and loving,” Orsolya Palacios said. She described watching her son’s spirit “extinguish” and his confidence “shatter” as the bullying escalated.
The Coronado Unified School District declined to comment on the allegations. In a statement provided to NBC affiliate KSND, the district said, “The Coronado Unified School District is aware of the legal matter currently pending. However, as a matter of policy, the district does not comment on ongoing or pending litigation. We remain committed to transparency and will provide updates as appropriate once the legal process has concluded.”
Gomez, the family’s attorney, also confirmed the filing of the claim on Monday, Sept. 22.
Mental health advocates stress the importance of immediate support for those struggling. Anyone experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or thoughts of self-harm can call or text 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org, available 24/7.
