David Phan's family speaks out

My heart breaks for this family... Just wanted to make sure you saw this Salt Lake Tribune article with the family of David Phan, the bullied 14-year-old junior high student who committed suicide outside his school earlier this month: Utah family hopes son's suicide buries bullying.

The family opens up to speak out about the way school officials mishandled David's situation, both before and after his death. The school district was quick to cover its ass, stating that David had not reported any incidents of bullying, and that he was "facing significant personal challenges on multiple fronts" -- basically blaming the victim.

This week, the ACLU of Utah wrote a letter to the school district on behalf of the Phan family, urging for a cease and desist of any further public statements about David and his family:

david phan's family sets up anti-bullying fund

Got this passed along to me... The news of 14-year-old David Phan's tragic suicide shocked communities everywhere -- another young life lost to the torment of bullying. But his family is hoping that David's death will not be in vain.

To spread awareness about the issue of bullying, David's family has set up a memorial Wells Fargo account in his name. In lieu of flowers, donations can made to the Anti-Bullying Foundation: In Memory of David Phan. All funds donated will go towards education and outreach efforts against bullying.

Here's the statement from David Phan's family:

Bullied teen commits suicide outside school

Damn. Tragic news out of Utah, where a 14-year-old middle school student committed suicide last week after being bullied one too many times: 14-year-old Bennion Jr. High student commits suicide.

David Phan, a student at Bennion Junior High School in Taylorsville, reportedly shot himself in the head in front of other students on a sky bridge just outside the school on Thursday afternoon.

According to peers, Phan was the victim of extensive bullying. He had been dismissed from school early that day and went home with this mother, but returned in the afternoon. On the bridge, he met up with some other students and produced a handgun just before shooting himself: