11-year-old girl kills self after bullies threaten to deport parents
What's the story
An 11-year-old girl from Gainesville, Texas, died by suicide after allegedly being bullied over her family's immigration status.
The girl, Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, was reportedly taunted at school with threats that her parents would be deported, her mother Marbella Carranza revealed.
The young girl passed away on February 8, five days after her mother found her unresponsive at their home in Gainesville.
School's role
Mother accuses school of negligence in bullying case
Marbella alleged she didn't know about the bullying until after her daughter's death and accused the school of knowing about it but not telling her.
"It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never...told me what was happening with my daughter," she told KUVN.
Investigators have confirmed Jocelynn received counseling at school over the harassment.
The Gainesville Independent School District is investigating the allegations.
Allegations
The family's immigration status not mentioned
"They were going to call immigration so they could take her parents away and she would be left alone," Carranza added.
She, however, did not mention the family's immigration status throughout her interview with KUVN.
She also alleged that her daughter would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.
Ongoing probe
Investigation underway into bullying allegations
While the Gainesville Independent School District did not confirm details of the case, they said they respond quickly to any reports of bullying.
The district said it has several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts.
"While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts," the school told CNN.
Community grief
Community mourns Jocelynn's death, remembers her fondly
Family and friends remembered Jocelynn as a joyful and kind girl who loved playing the French horn and making TikTok videos.
Hundreds of mourners, including many children, attended her funeral at St. Mary Catholic Church.
The Boys & Girls Club of Cooke County, where she was a member, expressed their sadness over her loss but said, "We are hopeful that her story will change the lives of many."