Official: Wilton High School ‘heartbroken’ following student’s death
WILTON — A Wilton High School student has died after being hospitalized from an incident that occurred Friday, the superintendent of schools wrote in a message to the school community.
“I am terribly heartbroken to report that earlier this morning we learned that our Wilton High School student who was injured on Friday passed away,” Superintendent of Schools Kevin Smith wrote on Monday morning. “This loss is incomprehensible and we ache for this student’s family and loved ones. This student’s death leaves us without words to express our grief or even attempt to understand this incredible loss. As a school community we extend our deepest condolences to this student’s parents, siblings and loved ones.”
Wilton police said the student attempted suicide with a firearm in a wooded area in town around 6 p.m. Friday. The teen, whose identity and age were not released, was taken to Norwalk Hospital before being flown to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he died, police said Monday.
In his letter to the Wilton High community, Smith said students can take a personal day away from school following the “traumatic” news.
“It is critically important that students remain in the care of close, trusted adults today,” he wrote.
The school’s crisis response teams will be available throughout the week for those who have been most directly impacted by the death, Smith said.
“Shock and disbelief are normal reactions when events such as this occur,” Smith wrote. “Trauma can impact everyone differently and within varying time frames. How we cope with tragic news is likely much more difficult these days, because we have already been under so much stress due to the pandemic and other recent heartbreaking news and events.”
This is the second death in the Wilton High School community in less than two weeks. On Sept. 21, 16-year-old junior George DiRocco died suddenly. His death was attributed to an undiagnosed heart condition.