Students to Wear Red in Support of the Lee’s Summit North Community

Students plan to wear red on Monday to support the Lee’s Summit North community after a 17-year-old senior girl allegedly committed suicide on campus. The student was taken to the hospital and died shortly after.

Lee’s Summit North was placed on lockdown this morning after a single gunshot was heard on the second floor. Students were evacuated from the school in less than 30 minutes.

The school district released the following statement:

“Due to a situation at Lee’s Summit North High School, we will be dismissing school at ONLY Lee’s Summit North at 9:15 a.m. Families of Lee’s Summit High school students are being notified of this cancellation. Our students and staff members are safe. Buses will be picking up students and taking them home. Student drivers are able to leave at 9:15 a.m. Parents wishing to pick up their children at LSNHS should go to the east side of the school at the events lobby side.”

Last year, students wore blue in support of the Rockhurst community after a freshman boy committed suicide.

“I remembered that for Rockhurst and the sexual assault [incident] we all got together and wore the same color to show support,” junior Dane Erickson said. “I thought we could do that for this too—it could be a good way to show support for that community.”

Erickson texted an upperclassmen boys group chat and invited students to help spread the word to wear red.

“I think this is showing everyone in the Lee’s Summit North Community that we care. We’re there to help them through this time and we’re sorry for their loss,” Ericskon said.

To learn more about suicide prevention visit the American Foundation for Suicide. A 24/7 hotline is available at 1-800-273-TALK.