McKinney Teen Found Dead

[Updated] The body of 14 year old McKinney Boyd High School student, Raymond Howell Jr. was found April 1, near a drainage ditch off of Eldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive in McKinney. Upon further investigation by police the cause of death has been confirmed as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. McKinney Boyd High School has said it will be providing additional grief counselors and support for students and staff.

Family and friends of have come forward saying that they believe bullying contributed to the teen’s suicide.

“R.I.P. sweet baby brother. No one can hurt you anymore, I love you so much,” said Raymond’s sister, Amber Howell on her Facebook page on April 3. “I want to say something to those kids who jumped him, for trying to do the right thing. To those despicable cruel teenagers who posted it all over social media, who made fun of him in class and online. I want you to realize the weight of your actions, I hope you understand that with every cruel word from his so called friends, you helped end my baby brothers life. The boy who would have stood up for you without a second thought, because he cared. I hope that sits with you forever. And to the parents of these children, in these videos, in those classes, I ask only one thing; remove those videos. You can’t reverse the damage done but you can at least honor my brothers memory.”