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School District responds to Hillview student suicide

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Parents rushed to Hillview Middle School Monday, after officials placed the school on lockdown while deputies searched for an armed student. Nigel Hardy (top right) ultimately committed suicide Monday night, authorities said. Grief counselors were available on site at Hillview Middle School Tuesday, according to Superintendent Regina Rossall. (Photo by TONY CHEVAL)
Parents rushed to Hillview Middle School Monday, after officials placed the school on lockdown while deputies searched for an armed student. Nigel Hardy (top right) ultimately committed suicide Monday night, authorities said. Grief counselors were available at the school Tuesday. (Photo by TONY CHEVAL)

PALMDALE –  Hillview Middle School on Monday was placed on lockdown for hours as authorities searched for 13-year-old Nigel Hardy, a suspended student believed to be suicidal and armed with his father’s handgun. (Read more here.)

Nigel was ultimately located in Kern County and pronounced dead at Antelope Valley from a gunshot wound, believed to be self-inflicted. Tuesday afternoon Westside Union School District responded to the incident with a statement from Superintendent Regina Rossall.

Read the full statement:

“Our hearts are with the parents and family of Nigel Hardy as they deal with this tremendous personal loss.

The Westside Union School District is deeply saddened and is committed to assisting students and staff in coping with this tragedy.  This commitment includes continuing to make grief counselors available on site at Hillview Middle School as needed.

At approximately 12:45 pm yesterday, Hillview Middle School was put on full lockdown at the request of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Department. We also placed Rancho Vista Elementary School on full lockdown as an extra precaution due to its proximity to Hillview.

No incident occurred at the school, and students were all reunited with parents or caregivers, the last student being released at 4:00 pm.

The safety of our students, staff and volunteers is a priority.

Any time a potential threat is identified our goal, in coordination with law enforcement, is to work quickly and decisively to protect our families.  In this case, we are thankful to our students, staff, local enforcement, parents and many others for helping us to do so in this difficult time.

All of us have many questions about this incident.

However, it is important to understand that information maintained by school districts concerning students is protected and confidential under Federal and State laws.  As a result, what we may be able to say regarding the incident or those involved might be limited.

However, we will continue to work closely with law enforcement, including providing them with timely and appropriate information.”

Previous related story: UPDATED: 13-year-old dead, suicide suspected

58 comments for "School District responds to Hillview student suicide"

  1. The problem is that parents are teaching their kids to bully. Parents drive and cut off other parents on the freeways, they give the middle finger, they post hateful comments online. The kids in this school district tell other kids things like your mom is a “f..ing ho” and “I would like to f..k your mom” and they constantly use the middle finger, talk sexual remarks, say things like you are fat. Kids are learning exactly what their parents are teaching them. The school district needs to teach the kids that bullying and making comments about a kid, their body parts, talking trash about their family has NO PLACE IN SCHOOL! How is it unacceptable in the workplace but it is acceptable online, in school and out in public? My son comes back from school since 3rd grade and 8 year olds talk about mothers breasts to other students. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! Kids need to learn that harrassment, sexual harrassment, bullying, hateful comments has no place in society, at school or in the workplace. If these kids are this angry to make these kind of comments, then they need to obtain counseling. And the parents need to get counseling also to find out why they are so angry and lashing out at people like this. It is absolutely RIDICULOUS! This constitutes defamation of character and I hope that people start suing.

  2. Please your opinions: As a parent do you tell your children to fight and stand up for themselves as long as they are not the one throwing the first punch OR Do you tell your children to walk away and tell an adult? As an adult when I have come upon this situation I have walked away. This was my belief to have the trust in the Authorities. I was coming home from a dinner with family, it was dark outside on Rancho Vista Blvd. and a lg. cement stone was thrown at my car and broke my windshield. We ran over to two Palmdale Police Officers sitting at a red light asked for help, showed them were we were still parked on the side of the road and the very large stone. We were told this is really not our area and they did nothing to help and slowing drove away as the light turned green. We have called Palmdale Police Dept. when we have had our electrical boxes tampered with in our neighborhood, Items stolen, eggs thrown and reported it to a authority. On zero occasions has anyone helped us. My point being so what do we teach our children when Authorities let us down and we have no faith in the system anylonger? What do we tell our children when they ask the question “what do I do Mom/Dad? Possibly just like in this case. Fight back or walk away (will it ever end).

  3. I have debated for days whether to chime in on this or not, but after discussing it this evening with my daughter, and seeing some of the comments, I think I should.
    First though, my daughter is a 13 year old student at Hillview, she witnessed the fight on Friday, and what led up to it. She really liked Nigel, and considered him a friend.
    My daughter came home from school a week ago Friday and she was upset when she got home. She saw a friend of hers get into a fight with another boy that he had issues with, and then her friend got suspended for the fighting and because he had a knife on campus. The boy with the knife was Nigel, and the boy he was fighting never hit him back, and actually got beat up pretty bad.
    I was horrified at the thought of a 13 year old carrying a knife around on campus, and then getting into fights. The school was right to suspend him for it.
    Since the tragic incident on Monday, my daughter, like a lot of the kids on campus, has been pretty traumatized. Thankfully, because of the amount of support on campus, she has also opened up and is talking about things that she rarely talked about before.
    After talking to my child for a week BEFORE jumping to conclusions to letting emotion get the best of me, this is what I know. Nigel moved here 5 months ago, but he had had some issues where he lived before. He was a good looking kid, and made friends pretty quickly. He was ALSO the target of a lot of what my daughter calls word bullying, what most of us older people would probably call very mean teasing.
    One of the things that no one wants to say, but it needs to be said anyway, is that Friday’s incident was not the only time there had been an issue with Nigel and a weapon, and not the first time he was in serious trouble for having a weapon, which is seriously disturbing, and as a parent, the fact that I found out about this only after a tragedy happened shows how much even the best of kids, and my daughter is a really great kid, don’t share with their parents because they don’t want their parents to not like their friends.
    Nigel, like a lot of kids his age, had issues. He was having trouble making the adjustment to being a teenager, and there is no doubt he was also being bullied. We have to be honest at some point and say that this kid got in trouble for having a gun in a park a few months ago, he had a knife at school on Friday, so the school took appropriate action by suspending him, and they even took appropriate action by locking the schools down on Monday when they found out he had left his home with a firearm.
    We can look back in hindsight and see a whole lot of things that maybe should have been done, or could have been done, but weren’t. It doesn’t help at this point though.
    There is one message though that really concerned me that came from my daughter in out conversation tonight. At Hillview right now, suicide is almost glamorized. These kids are seeing someone become what amounts to a celebrity for suicide, and we should be very afraid of the message this is sending out to very impressionable young people, some of whom are being bullied, some of whom have troubled home lives. We don’t need any more Nigel’s here.

    • I wanted to add one more thing. There have been a couple comments from what appear to be students complaining about the school calling the sheriff in when problems happen on campus. First, we are pretty new to Hillview, my daughter just started there in September, but even I know that Hillview, like all schools, is mandated to report any incidents of weapons on campus, and unfortunately, kids bring them to school a lot.
      In this era of school shootings, and mass killings on school campuses, I am thankful for this policy.
      The school has 2 jobs as far as I’m concerned with my child, to give her an education, and to make sure she is safe while she is there. I don’t think there is anything more unsafe then 12, 13, and 14 year old kids running around with knives and guns.

    • Totally agree. More or less the same thing being said on the other thread about the vigil.

  4. Someone asked about the http://www.petitions.com
    angel alert
    YOUR NAMES WILL NOT BE ONLINE IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
    THIS PETITION IS GOING TO THE WESTSIDE UNION SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
    There is a national petition on there, that is similar. Sign both if you wish, angel alert not going to the sheriff department. If you have outstanding parking tickets or any other concerns, Don’t worry.
    Let us try to work with the superintendent. Please!

  5. PLEASE GO TO http://WWW.ipetitions.com
    type in angel alert.
    YOUR NAME WILL NOT APPEAR ONLINE IF YOU DON’T WANT IT TO BE. ONLY ON THE HARD COPY. It’s a start and with enough signatures, perhaps Mr.Fox will help and the sheriff department will take a serious look at it. It can’t change Monday but it may help another child.

  7. #Erica Horror

    The only time this world is so [removed] up is when nothing is done to stop bullys from hurting others. If you know who they are post their names!

  8. The vigil for Nigel was touching. I heard many of the students asking WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE(school officials). I know you guys planned it and you felt it was stolen from you,I guess they heard about it. That is politics. Nevertheless, remember who it was really for and what it was about. I understand your feelings, but ease your minds in knowing your purpose was done. Take some satisfaction in that.

    • Mr. Poole, I just want to clarify…I know for a fact because a group of parents of the children planned the vigil. The principal and the others that attended from the school district were there to support Nigel. A child is dead, do you honestly think they were there for “politics”? We are all so quick to judge. Someone said at the vigil to “keep kind”. We all need to remember this. Pointing fingers is not helpful. We all need to work together to find a solution. Parents, neighbors, teachers, everyone…we need to teach kindness, understanding and tolerance when kids are little…they mirror what they see. Honestly, they were there because they are sad as well…they are parents too!

      • My message was to the students who felt upset that school officials was there. I think I pointed out to them whatever they felt was understandable, but they was really there for Nigel and to remember that.

        • True you did…but I think others are so quick to point fingers. I just wanted to say that they are grieving as well. We are all human…..I’m sure if they knew what was gonna happen, things would have been done differently. I just pray that Nigel death is not in vein and we can help other kids that are feeling hopeless.

        • Lisa, People talk and post but haven’t stood up. I’ve been speaking to those that have the abilities to make some changes since Tuesday. I’m trying Lisa, that’s all I can do. I care with all my heart for my child as well as yours.

          • If everyone had your attitude the world would be a better place…hopefully others will follow. Thanks for caring!

    • M.Poole you are a super nice person. I know for many years you worked with children who was dying of cancer and you worked with gang members, my mom told
      me. I know you care and I care about you. My mom said I can’t put my name on here but the next time I see you at hillview am going to hug you o.k.

      • Wow thanks, small world. I’m a rather private person and my works came from my heart. I need to do something positive concerning this matter, Privately.

        • Thank you, M Poole. Please help Truth get thru this. If we lose another child to this, it will be even more tragic than losing Nigel.
          Middle school is like a mine field and it sounds
          like alot of these kids are having to make it on their own.
          Truth, talks about parents working and not wanting them to worry. They need someone to listen to them without judgement.

          • Truth now knows just how much I care and that I am willing and ready to go as far as I must for all the children’s benefit. I need help with one of her issues. The sheriff department interactions with the students, if there is any and are they talking to students without a parent present. If anyone knows, please tell me.

  10. Parents control what goes on at home, the school is responsible for what goes on at school. Nigel was constantly harassed and teased according to close friends. Where was the school’s “Not in this town” bullying campaign for him then? Honestly whether the weapon was locked up or not he would have killed himself. It’s all over the news everyday, kids jump of high places, they hang themselves, overdose etc. From what I understand according to witnesses on Friday he was handcuffed and sat down in front of other students while officers spoke to staff, it must have been humiliating to him. A student that I personally know who was friends with Nigel was questioned that day and he told them Nigel said he was going to runaway. He is unsure if they even told the parents. Nigel did run away and now he is gone forever. He was ONLY 13 years old, he was scared and alone. It makes me sad to see what everyone is saying. I don’t believe that his bullies should be bullied too, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Their actions should not go unpunished though. I believe they all need counseling. Also the district’s statement on not releasing personal information is a joke. Why are the counslers telling parent that Nigel’s problems ran deeper than what had happened recently, that his family moved here to get away from similar issues? If that is even true it is something private and they have no right to release this information. Just because he came here for a fresh start from problems elsewhere does NOT mean he is a lost cause. He deserved a second chance at life not a short miserable one. I was happy to hear that the school had an assembly for the kids, but was let down once I realized it was to hand out AWARDS for good behavior at the lockdown. So instead of addressing bullying and suicide and encouraging ALL the students to strive for more in life, they rewarded kids for behaving well at a lockdown? I know how it is, it was probably just staff favorites. That was unfair and uncalled for. I was told by a student that all they said about Nigel was may he rest in peace. I am also told by Nigel’s friend that kids at the school are telling the people who were friends with Nigel that they are glad he is gone. Seriously what is the school doing about that? What happens when those friends get pushed to the limit and start fights? At the end of the day we as a community NEED to speak up for these issues. Parents please talk with your kids, teach them right from wrong. Schools be there as well for them, don’t just teach them math and science, educate them in life! We need to fix the problems while they are young, look at all the bad people in the world today, what if they were just bullies or bullied as a kids and never taught to be better or had no one to stand up for them. Most importantly, WE ALL NEED TO START ACCEPTING EVERYONE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND STOP THE DISCRIMINATION!!! As adults whether you have kids or not your actions influence them and makes them who they are. Lets change for our and their FUTURE!!! Peace Everyone. No hurt, PEACE! ☮

      • The question I have is why did he have access to the gun. The second thing is parents need to be involved in their kids lives. With the introduction of social media at such a young age it allows problems at school to infect the home also. The child has no escape from the bullying and it spreads like wildfire.

    • I too heard the school allowed Nigel to be handcuffed and seen by students which would cause any 13 year old considerable humiliation. I am not sure this is true but IF it is I really hope the patents sue the hell out of The district. As long as guns are legally in homes kids will find ways to get to them regardless. I am not saying to ban guns in all cases but to blame only the patents is cruel bc it can happen even with guns locked up etc. but IF the school allowed this child to be cuffed and detained where other children could see is flat out cruel. If it were me and my bullies saw me cuffed I would know the bullying will now be ten times worse. Kids tease, bully and brag and the school can not stop that BUT once the school takes affirmative action they better not cause more harm and if the do they should pay. Also the awards are disturbing. Kids need real help with dealing with their fears and emotions and awards is like telling kids their feelings can be ignored and marginalized

    • What is your name and contact information? If you are going to post inflammatory remarks, put your identity out there and stand behind your words. I’d be happy to give you a call to clarify some of your concerns. You cited our program, Not In Our Town……I’d like to know if you were involved in supporting our program and, if not, what solution did you bring forth as an alternative for this societal problem? You have my name. You can message me on Facebook and I’d love to hear from you.

      • Hi Ms. Massari,

        I’m a Westside parent. I wanted to message you on Facebook but could not find you. I would like to know what I can do to help you with the societal problem that has gripped us all nationwide and worldwide for that matter. I have been reading too many stories about victims of bullying committing suicide. I would like to offer my assistance in anyway with the district’s anti-bullying campaign. I feel passionate about this issue.

        Thank you,
        Tina

  11. I have had three children attend Hillview. I have had instances where I have had to talk with the principal regarding bullying of one of my children. Hillview is doing a great job. There is only so much they can do. We as parents are responsible for educating our children on how to treat others. We need stronger families. Poor educators get our children, with messy home-lives, dumped there day after day and we expect the schools to fix them instead of their own parents. So sad.

  12. Just a few things that have been weighing on my mind since this incident. First I want to say that the above statement wasn’t entirely true. My nephew attends Hill View and my niece and nephew attend Rancho Vista. Rancho Vista was never locked down. Which alarmed me that they allowed them to walk home if there was a potential threat. I was at my sisters house waiting for the word on what to do with my niece and nephew already home. The only reason we knew that my older nephew was in lockdown was because it was an hour after he should have been home and we were notified by my 10 year niece. Another false statement was that when we finally got my nephew it was after 4 and the office and plenty more in there. No lastly, me nephew that attends Hill View has been being bullied and he has been the one that has been suspended and not the bully. My nephew had his wrist hurt while being tackled to the ground had to take him to the hospital and nothing was done. My nephew got hit by 2 boys got a bloody nose and he was suspended and nothing to the boys that hit him. Hill View has a serious problem and they need to learn to fix it and its sad that it took Nigel giving up his life to shed a light on this problem. My heart and prayers go out to the family of Nigel and may you rest in peace never to be bullied again.

      • Once released they were quickly shuffled out of the area by teachers and aids, i was there saw it all

    • You are right Miranda Hillview has serious problems, what kind of school gives awards on a lockdown when a child of a mere 13 years of age has just killed himself?? This is the equivelant of giving awards in Boston after the bombing, what were they thinking!!?? There should have been an assembly to help the grieving children to explain to them what happened not just sweep this under the rug. This goes specifically to the counselor who said that he came here with problems. There are privacy laws that protect this boy whether he is with us or not, what he did or didn’t do in another state has no bearing on this situation. He needed help, and no one was there!!! My thoughts and prayers go to the family of Nigel Hardy I can’t imagine your pain I will pray that time will make you stronger and remember the happy memories you shared with your son……

      • Dissapointed Parent is right, Hillview handled the situation completely wrong, the assembly, (awarding students for their good behavior during the assembly?) the counselors statement, the lack of privacy, the incidents on Friday before his death, the lack of action to reprimand the bullies, (has anyone even told these thugs that what they did caused this young man to take his own life?) and the list goes on. I think this poor young man felt like he didn’t have anywhere to turn, he had been humiliated by the staff at the school, he couldn’t go back there, they had placed the school on lockdown because of him, his face was all over the internet (I know it was because good people were trying to find him and help him), it’s sad, RIP Nigel and God Bless you and your family

  13. I know some may not believe me, but I go to hillview. I’m in 8th grade. Nigel was in 7th. I did not know Nigel as much… But we talked. I..feel like if I knew I could have stopped it… but no one did. Just.. I wish Nigel did not do it. He had his whole life ahead of him. He was a cool guy, but he was suspended for fighting with a kid who called him a…you know… f@g because he was a male chearleader. I had no problem with that. He was a great friend. I was not too close to him, but I still feel sorry for him. People who were not there have close to no say in this. You are purely speculators. He did have some problems with his parents due to suspention, and was also mad at the bully. True, school is only meant for learning, but that like saying a knife is only for pizza. Humans make improvements…Such as many cosmonoligist theories have. School inproved in the way it is. Its no longer “just learn” it “help,learning,freindship,and team work”. Nigel we do very much miss you, but… I guess s**t happens… None the less he will be missed… Old friend. – Your friend and/ or fellow student -J

  14. So, so sad. Maybe future events like this could be avoided if the middle (and elementary) schools would add guidance counselors to their staff. Neither the Lancaster or Palmdale School districts have counselors on staff for the students. Kids in K-8 have needs that a counselor could help with – offering both prevention and intervention services through presentations and group activities – that would address problems such as bullying, peer pressure, death in the family, parent in lock-up, etc.
    Counseling positions were eliminated with budget cuts, and again, our children are suffering for it. :o(

    • Sad? Definitely. But if you want counseling for your kids, find a therapist. The schools job is to educate. Certainly while the students are in school they should be safe. And the staff should be sensitive if there are problems with “bullying, peer pressure, death in the family, and parent lock-up, etc.” But this young man did not pull the trigger because of a suspension. There must have been way more going on in his life to think that death was better than life. Bottom line……BAD PARENTING! All the way around this event. From the parents raising bullies, to the parents who let a 13 year old child to have access to a gun. What happened to personal responsibility? Why was Nigel unable to go to his parents for love and support that day? As a parent, it is part of my job to make sure the well being, and mental health of my child is intact. If you turn that job over to a school counselor, then you are part of the problem. Children are not “suffering” over budget cuts. PARENTS: it starts at home. Nigel, I hope you are cheering with the angels!

      • Yes, it starts at home. And – school counselors are NOT therapists, BUT they do offer a number of services, including lending an ear and helping a student in need of finding solutions. They also are proactive in teaching anti-bullying, tolerance, and acceptance through classroom presentations, as well as holding conflict resolution groups. They teach according to the ASCA National Standards (look it up online) in the areas of Personal/Social, Academic, and Careers – lessons much different (but just a valuable) than the 3 R’s that the classroom teachers, who are hard-pressed to meet their own state and district standards, teach.

      • If you are a parent, I hope nothing ever happens to your children and in your time of grief you are blamed for “bad parenting” I am a mother and do everything I can to support love and nurture my kids to make good decisions but there comes a time no matter how much I instill in them where they will have to make decisions on their own. No one is perfect or has all the answers how dare you place blame or pass judgement

        • I am not blaming the parents, but much behavior is learned at home, including bullying. Sometimes children feel that they just can’t talk to their parents or their “parents just don’t understand”. Or if a student feels he is being misunderstood or ignored by other adults (at home or at school) a counselor would be helpful.

          • just to clarify my comment was in response to “BP”
            I believe a counselor is helpful as well my childs school has a counselor and school psychologist. Yes everything starts in the home and children learn what they live but they live in the world not just home….we as parents canot protect them form everything

      • It wasn’t his father’s gun, it was his mother’s boyfriends gun. His father lives in Indiana.

  15. My prayers go out to the family of Nigel. It is truly a tragedy. Bullying has been going on for years. I was bullied in middle school everyday. I would see the guy coming and cringe because I knew what was coming. But it was one guy. Today with all the social media that the kids are exposed to, its not just “one guy” now. It is groups of kids making negative comments about other kids or kid. It would then seem like everyone is against you and that can be a pretty helpless feeling. I dont know what the answer is because cell phones and social media are here to stay. But we see it more and more around the country how these things have ruined lives.

  16. The westside school district satement is bull [removed] and lies. They need to explain way they didn’t call the parents abour the lockdown untill 2:05pm when they new at 12:45 what was going on.Why wrer we standing outside without knowing if our children were realy ok.I don’t know about anyone else but I want answers and I’d like them now.

  17. I’m so sorry for this young man and his family. A beautiful life gone. I don’t understand bullying…but it seems to me that only sad, insecure cowards bully others to some how inflate their egos.

  18. Parents please be harder on bullying because it starts with home….if any kids are ever accused of bullying a parent should be required to hold their hand for atleast a week straight all day at school…..so sad! REST IN PEACE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MAN! Heaven has a new HERO!

  20. Hillview Middle School and Westside Union need to step up and acknowledge that they have a responsibility to their students and parents. They need to do a lot more than working with law enforcement and providing grief counselors.

    • They actually have a very aggressive anti bullying campaign called “not in this town” that was featured on PBS. Certainly we all need to work together here and the district can always improve. There are so many facts not knomw here that its not right to jump to conclusions. Right now we all need to offer prayers, love and support for those suffering.

      • Westside Dad God Bless you and your family. I am well aware of the “aggressive anti bullying campaign” i watched the PBS special and other features done on Time Warner cable etc…. clearly they were not successful. I am a Westside mom that lives on the westside and is active in my child’s school. I make no assumptions, I have prayed and will continue to pray for all the children and parents involved however the tone and actions of Hillview Middle School and Westside Union school district thus far is not in any way acceptable, that was obvious by the comments left by parents after the article about the lockdown was posted on April 15, 2013. Love and Prayers to All

      • Westside Dad does your wife have the [removed] in your household.Your to much of a [removed] to give your name.There is a zero tolerance for bullying at Hillview Middle school. My child has had a problem at that school and the school refuses to do the right thing.Any and all bullys are to be removed from the school and sent to the bad kid school.Regardless of who they are what kind of grades they have or who there parents are.

      • The schools are absolutely CLUELESS as to what is really going on between students. You do not realize how the kids talk to each other. Kids as young as 8 years old talk sexually about other kids parents, calling mothers prostitutes, hos, that they would like to “f..k” them. The bullying is relentless at the schools. The kids are so cruel that they say things like you are a dog, you should kill yourself. This is not aggressive at all. Kids do not know the difference between right and wrong. They do not understand what defamation of character is, what harassment and sexual harassment is. They need to be trained! And the parents are no better either. The parents drive like maniacs and cut people off on the road, the parents post hateful comments online, the parents are perverted and go on porn sites and cheat on their spouses. So what do you expect from the children?

  21. Nigel please wake up. We miss you! This world is so f**ked up! I can’t believe they bully people until death and Nigel’s my friend which makes it 10000000 times more harder to take the news);