LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - A Lake Minneola High School student shot and killed himself in the school’s bus loop on Tuesday morning, authorities say.
Deputies said Seth Sutherland, 17, sent "goodbye" text messages to loved one before the senior took his life.
"As detectives investigated this unfortunate case throughout the day, they learned that he actually sent text messages to four people: his mom, dad, best friend, and I believe an ex-girlfriend," said John Herrell with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, "just basically saying 'goodbye.'"
Deputies secured the scene and recovered the gun and were quick to communicate that this was not an active shooter situation and that students were safe. Grief counselors were dispatched to the school after a lockdown was lifted.
Herrell said Sutherland also posted the public message on social media, "Rest in peace, [expletive] all of you who contributed to this." When asked if the teen had been bullied, Herrell replied, "Quite honestly, it's too early on in the investigation to say that."