Evanston Police Rule Student Hanging A Suicide

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Feb 17, 2009 7:40PM

After a second investigation into the death of 10-year-old Oakton Elementary student Aquan Lewis, the Evanston Police Department has ruled the death a suicide, agreeing with an earlier conclusion reached by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Lewis was found hanging from a hook in a school bathroom the afternoon of February 3rd and died early the following morning at Children's Hospital.

After the initial ruling of suicide, Aquan's family protested the decision, retaining an attorney. Aquan's mother, Angel Marshall, said, "My baby did not kill himself. You all need to get in that school and look at that stall." Reports eventually surfaced that Aquan had been distressed earlier in the day and threatened to kill himself after a teacher had scolded him.

Evanston police discussed their findings with the Lewis family and their attorney, Todd Smith, in advance of an afternoon press conference. Among the findings were that while Aquan's threat of harm to himself to a teacher was not confirmed, it was confirmed that he had made similar statements to other students. Among what Smith called the more "troubling" findings was that Aquan may have been gone for as long as 40 minutes before he was found in the bathroom.

Said Smith, "We have real serious concerns about why he was alone or at least away from supervision for as much as 40 minutes. Where is the teacher? Where are the adults? That's a big concern." At the press conference, police suggested that Aquan may have slipped away before or while his class was in line going to gym class. Police Cmdr. Tom Guenther said, "No one reported any concern regarding [Aquan's] mental health status" before the school year had started.