Hillcrest Elementary School Suicide – A Hillcrest Elementary School 5th grader passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2023. The student identified as 10-year-old Lukas Illescas was said to have died by suicide. He was said to have been bullied and harassed by a teacher who was not identified. His father, Christin Illescas, asserts that they told the young boy things such as “that he is a strange child, that he is fat, that he is ugly, that his shoes are like those of the homeless,” incidents for which it appears that Lukas did not want to return to his school.
Christin Illescas says that his son did not want to return to his school because of these incidents. The youngster planned to terminate his life by taking advantage of his grandfather’s oversight in one of his affairs.
According to Dr. David Mauricio, Superintendent of Schools, “No words can express the sadness we all feel at the loss of a young life. The passing of our Hillcrest scholar on May 25 is deeply felt by our school community. Our hearts and our prayers remain with his family/friends. Mauricio said he and the administrative team, have spent time at Hillcrest Elementary this week to help students, staff, and families through this difficult period. Clinical resources have been made available for all school community members as they cope with this loss. However, our hearts remain heavy.
Dr. David said the district is aware of numerous social media threads, as well as a news report, alleging that this student took his own life. “I believe it is important for me to also respond to allegations of inappropriate behaviors in our schools. As a district, we work closely with our students and families to address inappropriate behaviors. We are carefully reviewing school records, communications, and any other interactions to ensure allegations of misconduct are responded to properly and in a timely manner.”
Lukas Illescas GoFundMe
Christian Illescas, Lukas’s father, has established a GoFundMe page in an effort to collect monetary contributions that will assist the family in covering the expense of the funeral, the cost of relocating following the tragedy, and the cost of anything else the family requires to get back on their feet. The information presented on this page suggests that Lukas had his future taken away from him. He will never have the opportunity to graduate with his friends, create memories with his family, or live a life that is rich with options and exciting experiences. His loved ones and friends are utterly and completely shattered by this news.
Christian asked parents to present a united front in order to safeguard their children from the mindless disregard of the school administration as well as the terrible bullying that may occur. The students have a right to feel protected and heard while they are at school.
Lukas Illescas Obituary and funeral plans will be released by the family at a later date…
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