Doherty High School student found dead, few details released
The death of a teenage boy at Doherty High School on Thursday prompted an emergency closing of the school and alarmed parents who were told to pick up their children immediately but given little information.
The teen, whose body was found about 7:30 a.m., was a student at Doherty, Colorado Springs School District 11 spokeswoman Mary Crimmins confirmed.
The student’s name was not released pending next-of-kin notification and an autopsy by the El Paso County coroner, said Colorado Springs police spokeswoman Lt. Catherine Buckley.
Police said foul play was not suspected, but did not release details of the death.
Doherty parents expressed panic and alarm on social media Thursday when District 11 officials announced at 8:15 a.m. that the school was closed “due to an emergency,” per the superintendent.
A second statement from District 11 shortly before 9 a.m. attempted to calm public fears: “This is an isolated medical emergency, there is no danger to other students or staff. Please pick up your child in the east parking lot.”
Classes start at 7:45 a.m., but some students are in the facility up to an hour earlier for such activities as tutoring, practices and other extra-curricular activities, Crimmins said. On Thursday, students were kept in their first-period classrooms until the decision was made to close the school.
D-11 officials and police said they followed a protocol established to keep students and staff members safe, while allowing police to investigate, Crimmins explained.
“The decision to close the school was made because police were conducting an active investigation and we needed to make sure that wasn’t compromised, in addition to the safety of our students,” Crimmins said. “We were trying to get the information out to the public as quickly and as reliably as we could, considering what we could release at the time.”
All classes and athletic activities were canceled Thursday, said Doherty principal Kevin Gardner. All scheduled events and activities will resume as scheduled Friday.
Counselors will be available for students, parents and staff members as long as necessary, Gardner said.
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Doherty High School was closed Thursday morning and students sent home following an incident at the school. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette
Doherty High School was closed Thursday morning and students sent home following an incident at the school. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette
Doherty High School was closed Thursday morning and students sent home following an incident at the school. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette