Evanston Police: 10-Year-Old Hung Himself
Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 | Updated 1:44 PM CST
Aquan Lewis was found hanging in a bathroom stall at his school on the afternoon of Feb. 3. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital the next day.
Police investigating the death of a 10-year-old boy inside an Evanston elementary school said Tuesday they believe the boy took his own life.
Aquan Lewis was found hanging from a coat hook inside a school bathroom on Feb. 3. A medical examiner ruled Aquan's death a suicide, but his mother said she didn't believe her son killed himself.
Police released the 911 calls placed from the school on the day the boy was discovered. [Audio: 911 Call #1 | 911 Call #2 | 911 Call #3]
Police also released photos showing the polo shirt Lewis was wearing when he was found, and a photo they said shows his footprint on the toilet in the bathroom stall. Physical evidence shows Lewis buttoned up his polo shirt and hung himself from its collar, Evanston police Cmdr. Tom Guenther said.
Evanston police said they found no signs of struggle on the body, and they said Lewis was unhappy that day and had threatened to hurt himself.
School district superintendent Hardy Murphy said a teacher didn't notice when Lewis slipped out of class. He said the boy was gone between five and 40 minutes before the teacher realized Lewis was missing and began searching for him.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago
Posted Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 - 1:44 PM CST
