Teen dies at school

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — For the second time in the past seven months, a student at Navajo Prep has died.

Farmington police confirmed that a student, a senior, was found at Navajo Prep when police were dispatched to the school at 5:12 p.m. on Monday in response to a possible suicide attempt.

"The Farmington police are investigating an apparent suicide at Navajo Prep," said Det. Sgt. Robert Perez of the Farmington police.

Upon arrival, police found the female student still alive and sent the student to San Juan Regional Medical Center, but the student didn't survive and was declared dead soon after.

Perez was unable to provide additional information concerning the student that was found because the family of the student lives on the reservation. Navajo Nation police officers were still searching for the next of kin Monday evening.

Information concerning whether the student was male or female, the age of the student and where the student was found couldn't be released, but Perez confirmed that only one student was involved.

"Right now the Farmington Crime Scene Investigators are putting it all together and don't have all of the information concerning what happened and how it happened," said Perez.

Additional information should be made available following notification of the next of kin.

On October 26, also a Monday evening, Kyle Valenzuela, 17, was found in his dorm room dead after having hung himself with his own belt at 7 p.m.

Valenzuela was found by the dorms resident assistant, though police declined to comment at the time on whether a note was found explaining why Valenzuela had killed himself.

"We aren't at the point that we know why he did it, but we are definitely dealing with a suicide," said Farmington police officer Robert Miller. "There was no foul play involved."

Following Valenzuela's suicide, administrators elected to close the school for a week and brought in grief counselors to help the students handle the situation.

Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email at brianhassler@hotmail.com.