'I don't want to go to school. They're going to kill me'
Article content
The savage and senseless murder of Devan Bracci-Selvey is shining a chilling light on bullying.
The 14-year-old was stabbed to death Monday afternoon across from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in Hamilton’s east end.
Recommended Videos
tap here to see other videos from our team.
'I don't want to go to school. They're going to kill me' Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Cops say a 14-year-old and 18-year-old are charged with first-degree murder.
Neither can be named.
Devan’s mom told reporters her son had endured weeks of bullying.
For at least one mother who pulled her 15-year-old son from the school, Devan’s murder confirmed her worst fears.
“Two weeks ago, I had my son removed from Churchill on an emergency transfer due to kids bullying him,” the mother — who asked for anonymity for her boy’s safety — told The Toronto Sun.
“My son feared for his life as these kids [allegedly the same group who tormented Devan].”
For the final month of Devan’s short life, dealing with the bullies was a daily ordeal.
Now, the concerned mother said a number of parents are pulling their children from the school.
She had gone to the administration and the school’s police liaison officer numerous times both this year and last.
In her words, she said she was blown off.
It’s early, she was told.
Tell your son to just avoid them.
Oh, and he should take anger management classes.
After beatings and harassment, her son would go to school and there would be his tormentors.
It was as if nothing happened. A video of a beatdown failed to sway the administration.
The mom took three months off from work to be there for her boy.
Often, she would cry herself to sleep in fear.
This year, she was promised that none of the bully group would be in his classes. On the first day, there they were.
“From the school’s perspective, the onus was all on my son. Stay off social media, don’t message these people,” she said.
“He started skipping classes and came to me crying, ‘I don’t want to go to school, they’re going to kill me’.”
Two weeks ago she told the principal and vice-principal her son was not coming back, and she wanted him out of the district.
Finally, her MPP made the move to safety happen.
“And I’m still worried because these kids said they were going to seek him out,” the mother said.
Now, her son has his life back.
“He loves his new school, is making new friends, playing sports again,” she added.
“As for those kids, they’re just bad.”
Visitation for Devan takes place at the Donald V. Brown Funeral Home, 36 Lake Avenue Dr., Stoney Creek on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Stoney Creek United Church.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.