Ronin Shimizu, a cheerleader found dead, has an entire community mourning. 12-year-old Ronin Shimizu, who was the only male cheerleader from his school, was found dead last week. Shimizu committed suicide due to constant bullying.
Ronin Shimizu, cheerleader found dead in his California home, was bullied at the previous school he attended. On Wednesday, 12-year-old Ronin Shimizu was found dead in his Folsom, California home.
According to police, the boy committed suicide. His family and close friends are certain that bullying lead to Shimizu’s death. Ronin Shimizu parents recently removed him from California’s Folsom Middle School because he was constantly harassed by other students.
Shimizu was mocked and hit with anti-gay comments because he was the only male cheerleader on the Vista Junior Eagles Cheer Team. The seventh-grader, who was being home schooled, and according to his pals, he missed being a cheerleader.
Folsom Cordova Unified School District spokesman, Daniel Thigpen, confirmed that Shimizu was bullied while he was at Folsom Elementary and Middle School. Thigpen added:
“The complaints were met with appropriate action.We’re certainly using this as an opportunity to look back at how we looked at the allegations.”
Many of Ronin Shimizu’s friends were inconsolable upon learning of his passing. His former classmate, Mia Kleinbart, explained that he was often called gay and added:
“Bullying him because of cheerleading – that’s not right.He’s doing what he loves to do. That’s a human right to be able to do that.”
Another unnamed pal, stated that Ronin Shimizu was the happiest person she knew:
“Any time I talked to him it really brightened my day and made me feel better. I didn’t see why people would tease him because he was so nice.”
Folsom Cordova School District officials have made grief counselors available to help students and staff affected by the tragic event.
Ronin Shimizu, cheerleader found dead, has sparked another debate, about what can be done to stop bullying.
