'Bullied to death': Twelve-year-old boy kills himself after being 'repeatedly teased and stabbed with pencils on the school bus'
- Sixth grader Evan Ziemniak's death on March 23 was ruled a suicide
- Family members say the boy had been a victim of bullying, and his parents reportedly brought it up to West Allegheny Middle School several times
- Uncle Bill Costantini Jr said the boy, of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, had a happy home life, with no 'family upsets' such as divorce or abuse
- Community expressed their shock and came out to support the family in a prayer walk and memorial service that drew hundreds
A 12-year-old boy's suicide has rocked his community outside Pittsburgh after family members said he was the victim of ongoing bullying at school.
Evan W. Ziemniak, of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, died on March 23, with the Allegheny County coroner's office ruling it a suicide.
His grandmother Debbie Long told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Evan had been shoved and stabbed with pencils on the school bus, while the sixth grader's parents reportedly raised the issue with the West Allegheny Middle School several times.
Evan W. Ziemniak (pictured left with his parents and younger sister), committed suicide on March 23. He was just 12-years-old
Evan enjoyed playing Minecraft, learning about the Civil War, and collecting old coins. According to his family members, the boy was subject to bullying as a sixth grader at West Allegheny Middle School
Evan's other grandmother Diana Ziemniak said the 12-year-old committed suicide to 'stop the pain', while an uncle said the boy had a positive home life, ruling out divorce, abuse, or 'family upsets'.
'This isn't a kid from a broken home. This isn’t a kid who is on the streets at night. How does it come to this?,' Bill Costantini Jr. told the Post Gazette.
Evan enjoyed playing Minecraft, learning about the Civil War, and collecting old coins. He is survived by a younger sister and his parents, Matt and Dana Ziemniak.
His father vowed to combat bullying in a statement shared with the Post Gazette where he said: 'I will tell you that this story will eventually become bigger than just West Allegheny School District.
'The implications are more far-reaching and the issues that need to be discussed and addressed are not unique to our school district.
'Dana and I are prepared to do what is necessary to make sure other parents do not have to face the worst tragedy a parent could ever face.'
In a Facebook tribute post that has been shared more than 800 times, many parents in the school district offered words of condolences and shared stories of their own kids being bullied.
Vicki Delien wrote: 'The voices of our children here at West A need to be heard and NOT swept under the carpet.
'This is truly heartbreaking. I've seen the bullying that goes on at the middle school and at the elementary school too.
'My one child has been to guidance countless times. I can't even imagine the pain that the parents are going through. My heart goes out to them.'
His father vowed to combat bullying in a statement shared with the Post Gazette where he said: 'The implications are more far-reaching and the issues that need to be discussed and addressed are not unique to our school district'
News of Evan's death shocked members of the local community, where about 400 people gathered days after to participate in a prayer walk. A memorial event also drew the support of classmates, teachers, and members of the police department and school board. Pictured, Evan with his mom, dad, and sister
About four hundred people gathered at the middle school on March 26 to remember Evan in a prayer walk that included hymns sung by a local choir.
A memorial event also drew the support of classmates, teachers, and members of the police department and school board.
The DailyMail.com has reached out to the school for comment, while spokesperson Karen Ruhl said in a statement on Wednesday that they were 'deeply saddened by the news'.
The school, which acknowledged the need for a new anti-bullying program, had just launched the Safe and Supportive Schools Program earlier last month, the Post Gazette reported.
It came under fire from parents after a January 'Kindness Workshop' left some kids in tears,WTAE reported.
Kids were asked to hold masks over their faces and step into a circle if they identified with certain categories of race, sexuality, class or ethnicity.
According to the local news channel, the parent of a eighth-grader said: 'I never would expect a middle school to ask 13-year-old kids if their parent was in jail, if they’re same sex, if they're having financial issues.'
Superintendent Dr. Jerri Lippert defended the program, saying the age-appropriate exercise was intended to raise awareness that pejorative terms used to target specific demographics of people can be hurtful.
Officials at West Allegheny Middle School acknowledged the need for a new anti-bullying program and had just launched the Safe and Supportive Schools Program earlier last month
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