A popular Toronto teenager who would have turned 14 today hanged himself at home after being viciously cyber-bullied by classmates about being gay, his stepmom says. Sandria Gillard, 46, said Shaquille Wisdom was online with a friend being told "not to do it" minutes before he hung himself from the stairs of her Annable Lane home on 20 October. "He was such a polite, well-behaved boy," Gillard told the Toronto Sun. She said Shaquille's body was found by his sister, Adrienne, 26, who is still traumatised. Shaquille, who loved school and was a popular student, wanted to be a movie producer, Gillard said. His problems began after he told a trusted friend he was gay. The friend told others at school and 'outed' Shaquille in June on websites created by students for bullying. "They began calling him names and sending him ugly e-mails," Gillard said. "He couldn't hide from them and he didn't let others know." Gillard didn't find out until the funeral on 27 October that Shaquille was being tormented at school. "Later I was told that a friend was telling him on the computer not to do it (commit suicide)," she said. "I was also told boys were taunting him at school." She also found out that students had written e-mails, threatening him and making fun of his sexuality. She said Shaquille was stuffed into a garbage can by students at his school just days before he committed suicide. "I am confused and looking for some answers," Gillard said. "He was right before me on the computer and next thing he's dead." Ajax High School principal Phil Matsushita said he'd heard rumours from students about the popular student-council member. "He didn't show any signs of being a victim," Matsushita said yesterday.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 23rd November 2007 - 12:36pm