they were little terrorists. they flicked his ear, pushed him into lockers, called him gay. the bully said, eric, why don't you go home and shoot yourself? it's not like anyone would care. >> reporter: hours later? >> hours later eric went home and shot himself. >> reporter: both families have filed lawsuits against the well-respected mentor school district, saying administrators ignores bullying calling it gross negligence and there's a frightening pattern here. >> bullied. deceased. bullied, deceased. >> reporter: four kids, one school. the first was jennifer in 2006. her family says bullies at mentor high harassed jennifer but her learning disabilities. 2007, eric's suicide. weeks later, after telling her friend she's was gay, meredith took her own life. then came the suicide a year later. in a statement to nbc news the school superintendent said they've had anti-bullying policies in place for years.