Students band together, offer each other support after school resource officer fatally shoots himself in office: 'I'm here for anyone that wants to talk'
A Maryland high school resource officer fatally shot himself inside his basement office, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Officer Joseph Comegna of the Baltimore County Police was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was found alone in his office at Eastern Technical High School in Essex, Md., at about 12:23 p.m. on Monday after staff heard a gunshot. The school was briefly placed on lockdown following the incident. Comegna’s service weapon was found in the room, and investigators believe he shot himself with it, a police spokeswoman told the Baltimore Sun.
Comegna was a 21-year veteran of the police department and had spent the past four years working at the school. Students and school staff are shocked by his suicide, as he was generally thought of as a friendly, affable person.
I am saddened to learn about the death of Officer Joseph Comegna, school resource officer at Eastern Technical High. My thoughts & prayers are with his family, BCPD, and Eastern Tech’s students & staff. We will be sure to have the traumatic loss team at the school for support.
— Verletta White (@VerlettaWhite) November 12, 2018
Through this tragedy, however, many students are helping others who might be suffering. While the school is offering a traumatic loss team, per a statement from Baltimore County Public Schools interim Superintendent Verletta White, other students are encouraging their peers to speak up if they are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, while offering condolences to Officer Comegna’s family.
Christine Ho, who attends Eastern Technical High School, shared on Facebook, “Officer Comegna was the SRO (student resource officer) at my high school and today he took his life…
“It shows that no matter how happy an individual may have seemed on the outside, there may have been something going on on the inside. Please don’t forget to reach out to your friends and family.
“May you rest in peace, Officer Comegna. Thank you for protecting Eastern Tech, you will be missed. Prayers to Officer Comegna’s friends and family and to everyone that is affected. I’m here for anyone that wants to talk.”
Another student, Olivia Eliadis wrote, “…remember those who seem the happiest and help [others] may need help themselves, be there for each other.”
In a tweet, a fellow student said that she was there for anyone suffering.
Please dont ever forget you can always turn to me if you ever need help, i will be here for anyone?? rip officer comegna🙏
— Liv (@0k0livia) November 13, 2018
Investigators don’t believe any students witnessed the suicide, but the gunshot may have been heard by some students, according to police officer Jennifer Peach.
There is currently no known motive for the shooting.
Verletta White did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.
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