Parents Daniel and Maureen Fitzpatrick in Staten Island, New York, are living through every parents' worst nightmare. Their son, Danny, took his own life this past Thursday, according to a New York local news WPIX report. Danny's parents revealed that their 13-year-old son left a note detailing events in which he was bullied at school. It's an unspeakable tragedy that calls attention to the severity of bullying in schools everywhere. Now, Danny's parents are speaking out, and the father's message about his son's suicide will break your heart.
In a Facebook live video on Saturday, Danny's father tearfully addressed the tragic incident:
First I'd like to say thank you to all the people out there. Your support, your condolences, your thoughts, and your shares, My son's story ... for the world to see. For the world to know... the pain that he went through. I miss my son very much. No parent should have to bury their child. No child should have to go through what my son went through.
Fitzpatrick said that his son was continually bullied at school, and that the family made efforts to talk to school officials, including the principal, about the bullying, but reportedly did not receive adequate help from the school.
"Danny was a kind, gentle little soul," the dad continued in the Facebook video. "He didn't have a mean bone in his body."
Danny attended Holy Angels Catholic Academy in Brooklyn. A spokesperson for the school released the following statement to the New York Daily News regarding Danny's death:
In light of this tragedy we are reexamining all bullying prevention policies and training. The principal, teachers, and staff of Holy Angels Catholic Academy are heartbroken over the loss of Danny Fitzpatrick. We take the issue of bullying very seriously and address every incident that is brought to our attention.
Holy Angels Catholic Academy did not immediately return a request for comment.
In the Daily News interview, Daniel and Maureen Fitzpatrick revealed that Danny was often targeted in gym class, and was allegedly called "lazy" by a teacher in front of class. In Danny's letter (which was reportedly written in July, according to WPIX), the 13-year-old detailed incidents in which he was bullied at school. "At first it was good lots of friends, good grades and great life..." Danny wrote. He continued, "My old friends changed, they didn't talk to me, they didn't even like me."
The 13-year-old also described being bullied by a group of schoolmates, and eventually getting in a fight, which, he wrote, resulted in him having a fractured pinkie finger. He also explained having a lack of support from teachers. "... They didn't do ANYTHING!" he claimed.
Danny then hanged himself in his family's attic, and was found by one of his sisters, the family told Daily News.
It's an unspeakable pain and tragedy, and Danny's dad's heartbreaking Facebook video, I'm sure, shows only a glimpse of the indescribable pain he's feeling.
"I miss my son," Danny's dad continued in the live video. "All I want is – I just want to hear him say 'good morning dad' one more time. And that way I can tell him, 'good morning I love you.' Which I did everyday."
The Fitzpatrick family have created a GoFundMe account to help fund Danny's burial and memorial services.
