by Maya McFadden
Roberto Clemente Academy has lined up extra counselors and psychologists to help students process the loss of one of their second-grade classmates — two days after an 8‑year-old boy died from an apparently accidental gunshot wound at his home in the Hill.
Roberto Clemente Principal Adela Jorge relayed that message to parents on Tuesday as she called families and sent out a letter in regards to Sunday’s tragedy.
The 8‑year-old, whom police have yet to identify by name, died Sunday night following a shooting in his family’s third-floor apartment on Dewitt Street. Police are still investigating what happened, and have not yet made any arrests.
“It is with great sadness that I am sharing that our Roberto Clemente School community tragically lost a student over the weekend,” Jorge wrote in her letter to parents on Tuesday. “As a school community this is unimaginable. We are working with district staff and community partners to support our students and staff during this tragedy. Our hearts are with the family and friends of this child.”
New Haven Public Schools spokesperson Justin Harmon said that, while Jorge reached out to parents Tuesday afternoon, Roberto Clemente school staff were informed of what happened Monday evening “so they could be prepared for conversations with students this morning.”
The extra counselors and psychologists on site at Clemente offered students the chance to talk and provided support to staff.