Boy, 9, dies in apparent hanging

THE COLONY, Texas, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- A 9-year-old boy apparently committed suicide by hanging himself in a school bathroom in The Colony, Texas, authorities say.

The Dallas Morning News reported Friday the Tarrant County medical examiner identified the boy as Montana Lance. Authorities suspect the boy hanged himself Thursday while in a bathroom of the nurse's office at Stewart's Creek Elementary School.

School officials said the boy, who had been in the nurse's office all day, had asked to use the bathroom and was checked on twice, WFAA-TV in Dallas reported Friday. He was found unconscious the third time he was checked.

The fourth-grader was was immediately transported to a hospital in Carrollton, Texas, where he was pronounced dead, the Morning News said.

The exact cause of death had yet to be determined.

"We do know that this incident is not related to any form of bullying," WFAA-TV quoted Lewisville Independent School District spokeswoman Karen Permetti as saying.

"This family is in our thoughts and prayers at this time with their grief."

WFAA-TV in Dallas reported grief counselors were at the school Friday and would be there through next week.

"It's just sad. I can't imagine what would make a 9-year-old boy feel this way," Stephanie Rodriguez, the school's PTA treasurer, told the TV station.