Lee’s Summit North High School dismissed early Friday after a 17-year-old girl died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a school bathroom.
The school was briefly under lockdown after students heard gunshots at 7:50 a.m. and Lee’s Summit Police responded. The girl, a senior whom KCUR is not identifying, was taken to a local hospital where she died.
An emotional Lee’s Summit R-7 District Superintendent Dennis Carpenter, who was hired in January, addressed reporters Friday afternoon.
“I often hear since I’ve been here in the district that our schools are the heartbeat of our community,” Carpenter said. “Well, today, as the district’s leader, my heart is broken.”
The district cancelled all activities, including postponing Friday night’s football game with Blue Springs.
For more information on suicide prevention or for support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Peggy Lowe is KCUR's investigations editor. She can be found on Twitter @peggyllowe.
