Boy bullied for being a cheerleader commits suicide

A Northern California school was in mourning over the suicide Wednesday of a 12-year-old boy who had been bullied.

Friends said Ronin Shimizu was made fun of because he was a member of a local youth cheerleading squad. He attended a charter school in the town of Folsom.

“Bullying him because of cheerleading, it’s not right. It’s what he loves to do and that’s a human right to do that,” one friend, 11, told Fox 40 News.

Folsom Cordova Unified School District officials said they are investigating.

“Well, we were aware of allegations of bulling. I can’t speak to specific allegations, but like all allegations we investigate them fully,” district spokesman Dan Thigpen told the station.

Many attended a vigil on Thursday.

“I have a child at the same school,” parent Kazmiera Grundy told the Sacramento Bee. “I came to support the family. Folsom is a close community.”