High school student Robert Ackley commits suicide

Took his life in dining hall with fork

Robert Ackley, a high school student at Pensey Prepatory school, died yesterday morning on the way to a hospital. Witnesses say that Ackley stabbed himself in the throat several times with his fork during breakfast.
Ackley had always been a bit of a loner according to fellow student Ward Stradlater. He also said that Ackley was frequently bullied by the seniors; a statement that the principal says is untrue. According to him, the school has never had a problem with bullies.
Ackley’s relationship with his family was also a troubled one. His mother died of leukemia when he was only 4. His father then succumbed to drinking alcohol and abusing the children.
During the breakfast Ackley had gotten several vicious comments from other students relating a letter from his father. Stradlater said that Ackley broke down in tears and then started laughing through his tears. Apparently he then stabbed his left hand once before stabbing himself in the throat. Witnesses were shocked at the sight and the students who sat next to him are still not talking.
The staff was very slow at reacting; the process getting the students away from the dining hall was painfully slow. Calling the hospital was also far too delayed and an investigation has been started to see whether the staff did anything wrong.
It is known that Ackley was one of the last people to talk to Holden Caulfield, a student that was dismissed from the school last week. The faculty has discussed whether anything he said to Ackley before he left had any impact on the tragic event. They have reached no conclusion as of today.
A ceremony to honor his memory will be held next Thursday in the school chapel. Ackley’s brother said that it is an open service; everyone who knew him can come and pay their respects.