Civil rights attorney John Gomez has filed a complaint against the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) on behalf of the family of Gabriel Palacios, a 13-year-old student who died by suicide in April.
Palacios, who had Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, and OCD, was allegedly bullied both in-person and online. In February, he accidentally sent an explicit image on Snapchat, which was reportedly saved and circulated among classmates. According to the complaint, school officials failed to properly investigate the harassment or stop the spread of the image.
On April 6, Palacios left school early, saying he felt sick. That evening, while his parents were out of town, he died by suicide and was found by his sister.
The lawsuit claims CUSD repeatedly ignored or mishandled bullying complaints and even wrongfully disciplined Gabriel, including suspending him for carrying a wine opener he used for soda bottles. His mother said he felt targeted by administrators, telling her that Vice Principal Barto was “out to get him.”
At a press conference, Gomez and Palacios’ family accused the district of negligence. Mercedes Smith, head of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization, said parents and students also bore responsibility: “The uncomfortable truth we must take responsibility for is that we failed Gabriel. We failed his family.”
The district said it would not comment on pending litigation but pledged transparency as the legal process moves forward.
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