An 11-year-old Ohio boy took his own life after relentless racial bullying at school. Now his parents are suing the school district, accusing officials of failing to protect him.
Abyesh Thulung, who immigrated to the U.S. as a toddler after being born in a Bhutanese refugee camp, was an honor roll student at Findley Community Learning Center before beginning fifth grade at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Middle School in 2023, Cleveland.com reported.
While Thulung was excited to attend a STEM-focused school, his optimism faded as he reportedly became the target of ongoing racist harassment. Despite repeated reports to school officials about physical and verbal abuse—including racial slurs and attacks that left him injured—the lawsuit claims that administrators failed to act.
In February 2024, after grabbing a classmate's collar in response to an ethnic slur, he was given detention. Later that month, after a fight left him with a bloody nose, only he was punished, and his seat was moved next to one of his bullies, according to the lawsuit.
On March 20, he again reported being bullied and was subsequently suspended for two days. When informed of his suspension, he reportedly cried out that he wanted to run away and hurt himself, but the lawsuit stated that school officials failed to inform his parents.
The next day, he died by suicide.
On Wednesday, his parents filed a federal lawsuit against Akron Public Schools, alleging wrongful death, civil rights violations and negligence. They claimed that the school district failed to follow its own anti-bullying policies and withheld key records about their son's treatment.
The lawsuit also alleged the school deleted surveillance footage related to the incidents leading up to his suspension. Thulung's parents are demanding accountability and policy changes to prevent similar tragedies.
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