An unidentified Black teenage boy was found hanging outside of Ehrhardt Elementary School in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday evening (June 16). According to ABC News, the Harris County Police Department reported to the scene around 8 p.m. As of Wednesday afternoon (June 17), officials have claimed there are “no signs of foul play” and that his death appears to be by suicide.
“Deputies were called to the parking area of a school in the 6600 block of Rosebrook, where a teenage black male was found deceased,” a tweeted from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported. “Based on security video, witnesses and other evidence, preliminary indications are the male hanged himself.”
“There are currently no signs of foul play,” another tweet read. “Cause of death is pending autopsy.”
The teen’s hanging follows several recent accounts of Black men dying from hanging across the country. REVOLT previously reported about Dominique Alexander, Robert Fuller and Malcolm Harsch, all of whom died by hanging within the past month.
On Tuesday (June 16), it was announced that federal authorities would review the local investigations into Fuller and Harsch’s deaths. Fuller was found dead on June 12 in Palmdale, California and Harsch was found dead 10 days later in Victorville, California. Both deaths were ruled as suicides from preliminary investigations by local law enforcement. However, after public outcry from residents, both sheriffs pledged to continue the investigations.
Over the weekend (June 14), over 1,000 people gathered for a protest and memorial service for Fuller. Residents also voiced concerns that the two California men could have been lynched during a town hall hosted by Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The news also follows recent REVOLT reports about other accounts of violence against Black people, including Black Lives Matter protester Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau and recent high school graduate Na’Kia Crawford.