LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. –
Students at Lee’s Summit North High School gathered Saturday to create a memorial for their classmate who took her own life Friday morning.
The high school was dismissed early Friday after police say a student attempted to harm herself on the second floor. Students say they heard a single gunshot while they were in class.
The teen was taken to an area hospital where she later died.
The family of Gemesha Thomas, 17, gave 41 Action News permission to share her name and her story. They say Thomas took her own life not because of bullying, but because of depression.
“She fought it for a very long time and unfortunately sometimes it takes over and there’s nothing that anybody can do about it,” Nicole Kolstead, a family friend said.
Ahead of Saturday’s football game against the Blue Springs Wildcats, students met up to create a memorial to remember Thomas.
294 red cups were lodged in the fence along the school’s football field to read “#NorthStrong 09-29-17”
Adam Ford and his two friends created the memorial.
“It was trial and error to get the design right,” Ford said.
Just one day ago they were wrapping their heads over what took place at their school.
“As details began just kind of coming in we all started almost being in shock and just confused more about what happened exactly and why it happened,” John Hammonds, a Lee’s Summit North Junior said.
During Saturday’s game, there were acts of kindness in between the action on the field. In one instance cheerleaders from the Blue Springs Wildcats took a group picture with the cheerleaders of Lee’s Summit North’s Broncos.
“To me, that tells me that it’s bigger than their rivalry of their schools, you know, they’re young kids that can come together show unity at a time when everybody needs to be lifted up,” said Angela Holt, whose daughter is on the Lee’s Summit North cheer squad.
Holt is one of the many parents who had a tough conversation with their children Friday night.
"I honestly last night looked at her and told her that—‘have you ever thought of hurting yourself?’ and I want you to know that if you don’t feel like coming to me you can come to your friends, people out here at school, you have your friends’ moms come to anybody,” Holt said.
A candlelight vigil to remember Thomas is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Northeast Churchill and Knollbrook streets in Lee's Summit.
Funeral services are set for next Saturday.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with funeral expenses.
Resources:
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call them at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
- Coping with suicide loss from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Missouri Department of Mental Health Suicide Prevention information
- Kansas Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Additional resources from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
