A 10-year-old student who had been "relentlessly bullied" for months begged his parents to stay home before dying by suicide in New York, according to Fox News.
After pleading for help for months, Gianlukas "Lukas" Illescas's dad told the news outlet that the school district "didn't have time" to address his son being bullied. He added at a school board meeting that his son had been scared to go to school for the past six months.
"Look. Look. You didn't have time. Five minutes? I don't know how you can sleep. I don't know how," the father said at the meeting, according to ABC 7. "He was waking up 5:30 in the morning every day to give me a kiss before I go to work, when I was coming he was waiting for me at the station, he loved to swim."
"We had to call the police one time," the father said. "He said, 'Please, I don't want to go to school, I don't want to go to school.'"
The 10-year-old asked his teachers for help but was allegedly told that they were "too busy," according to News 12.
"Bullying is responsible for the death of a 10-year-old child!" his dad wrote in a GoFundMe. "He will never get to graduate with his friends, make memories alongside his family, and have a life full of choices and adventure! His family and friends are heartbroken and beyond devastated."
Prior to being bullied, the 10-year-old was known for being a "happy, engaging, energetic boy."
"On behalf of the City of Peekskill, I want to express our condolences on the recent passing of a Hillcrest Elementary School student. Our hearts and prayers are with the family. Our Police Department is still actively investigating this matter and will share information once the findings are complete," a statement from the city read.
The school district released a statement expressing their condolences and said the local police were investigating the incident. The student's father is also calling for staff members to be fired.
