Lacey Township High Schooler Takes Own Life

Grief counselors are tending students at Lacey Township High School who are in shock over the suicide of a classmate.

Sources in the Lacey Township Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office indicate only that an 18-year-old male died from a self-inflicted gunshot today in a house away from school grounds.

In a statement, Superintendent of SchoolsSandra D. Brower confirmed that the student was a senior.

"Today we learned of the tragic death of one of our high school seniors.  The Lacey Township Police Department notified us of the death at approximately noon today.  The incident was reported to have occurred at the student's home, read the statement.

"Upon learning of the tragedy, the District Crisis Team was convened and the Crisis Management Plan was implemented.  Crisis counselors were called in from all of the schools in the District as well as from surrounding Districts.  Counseling services will be available for students and their families Tuesday evening until 8:00 p.m.  Counseling services will be available for students at the High School throughout the day tomorrow and until 8:00 p.m. tomorrow evening."

A school safety forum organized in response to last Friday's school massacre in Connecticut, orignally planned for tonight at Lacey Township Middle School, has been postponed.

Tributes from classmates are rapidly pouring on to social media sites.Many indicate they are planning to wear yellow to bring awareness to suicide prevention. Yellow is a color designated for such a cause.

For more information about teen suicide in Ocean & Monmouth counties call CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth counties at (732) 240-6100 24 hour a day, seven days a week.