Nigel Shelby
The family of an openly gay teenager who died by suicide after relentless bullying and harassment that was allegedly allowed to go unchecked by school officials is suing the city of Huntsville and its public school system for violating his civil rights.
Nigel Shelby, 14, died by suicide on April 18, 2019, after being tormented by fellow schoolmates, who physically assaulted him, called him derogatory names, racial slurs, and anti-gay slurs, and bullied him on social media as well in person. Shelby became more and more depressed and began engaging in self-harming behaviors as the bullying continued.
Civil rights lawyers Benjamin Crump and Jasmine Rand, who are serving as co-counsel for Shelby’s family in the lawsuit, said in a press conference on Tuesday that school administrators refused to take action to stop the bullying even after Shelby complained of the harassment he was receiving.