By Rich Bockmann
The young Queens Village girl who took her own life was laid to rest earlier this week as the community struggled to come to grips with her death.
A funeral was held Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Queens Village for 12-year-old Gabrielle Molina, who was found hanging in her home last week after she may have been bullied.
“Gabby you will forever be in our hearts. Heaven has gained an angel, & I hope [you’re] up there watching down on us,” Kayla Salick wrote in the 12-year-old’s online guestbook. “Thank you for leaving here with a lesson taught darling!”
The principal at Gabrielle’s school sent a letter to parents offering counseling to students affected by her death.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our students,” IS 109 Principal Karleen Adam-Comrie wrote. “Members of our Crisis Response Team are available to meet with students individually and in groups today as well as over the coming days and weeks. Please contact the school office if you feel your child is in need of additional assistance.”
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the investigators were looking into whether the young girl had been bullied online.
“She did write a suicide note and there was information in the suicide note concerning bullying, cyberbullying,” he said.
Investigators had taken two computers from the girl’s home in search of clues.
An outpouring of sympathy and calls to get tough on bullying have followed Gabrielle’s death.
City Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens), who represents the neighborhood and authored the city’s anti-bullying law, said Gotham’s schools still have a long way to go in order to eradicate bullying.
“I was saddened to learn today about the untimely death of 12-year-old Gabrielle Molina; my heart and prayers go out to her family and loved ones,” he said the day Gabriella’s body was discovered. “As a sponsor of the anti-bullying legislation in the City Council, I am trying to eradicate all forms of bullying in our school communities. Every school across this city needs an effective anti-bullying program to help end our culture of cruelty that continues to destroy the lives of our children.”
The law, signed in summer 2011, authorizes the city Human Rights Commission to conduct education on cyberbullying in schools, libraries and government agencies.
Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson said school communities have to crack down on bullying.
“Before any more lives are lost, before another parent has to bury a child, we must make our schools safe for every student. All of us — teachers, parents and leaders — are responsible for making classrooms safe learning environments for our children,” he said. “The [city] Department of Education must act to end bullying in schools by assigning dedicated staff tasked with combating bullying, and provide regular updates on steps to protect students and families from this assault.”
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
