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Report: No Bullying In 5th Grader's Suicide

The judge who reviewed the circumstances surrounding the suicide of 11-year-old Jaheem Herrera released results of an internal investigation that found no evidence of bullying in connection with the 5th-grader's death.

Retired Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thelma Moore said Jaheem was upset over the recent death of his grandmother and the shooting death of his uncle.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Pam Martin talked to the attorney for Jaheem's mother, Masika Bermudez, after the report was released Wednesday. He told Martin that Bermudez was shocked by Moore's findings.

Jaheem's mother left the meeting as Moore presented her findings.

Several people, who were not allowed into the meeting, protested outside chanting "Shame."

Former Atlanta city councilman Derrick Boazman was among them and was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after he too repeatedly shouted 'shame' outside the news conference. He was later released.

Authorities said a family member discovered the boy in his Atlanta-area home after he hanged himself on April 16.

The boy's mother insists he was bullied at school and that administrators at Dunaire Elementary did nothing to stop it.

"He's tired of telling the teachers and the staff about the problems and they never do nothing about it so the only way out is by killing himself," said Bermudez.

But Judge Moore, who headed up the internal investigation, said she found no evidence of bullying at the school and there was no evidence that the mother had repeatedly contacted the school about alleged bullying. Moore said her team interviewed at least 50 people during the internal investigation.

Bermudez recently filed an intent to sue. The county and school district have 30 days to respond before the lawsuit becomes official.

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