So. Lehigh 7th-Grader Has Died, Superintendent Says

Southern Lehigh School District Leah Christman announced in an email message Monday afternoon that a seventh grade student has died.

The student attended Southern Lehigh schools and administrators as well as teachers and grief counselors are currently helping students affected by the loss of their classmate, Christman said.

"We...called on the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit's Flight Team, a crisis response team of counselors from other school districts in our region," she wrote in the email. "Our principals...are aware and have informed their staff members. Several additional counselors are now in our schools to help support students and teachers, and will remain available for the days ahead as long as they are needed."

She added that the district has "no additional confirmed information concerning [the student's] death at this time."

The Express-Times—which cited emergency radio reports—reported earlier Monday that a 12-year-old boy from Lower Milford Township died Monday after he was shot in the head with a .38 caliber weapon.

The newspaper said it had confirmed that the Lehigh County Coroner's Office is conducting a death investigation in the township and that Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville are involved, but indicated that additional details weren't immediately available.

Christman said that Southern Lehigh Middle School principal Dr. Edward Donahue is preparing a message to be read to students tomorrow morning.

"We have also staffed a room for students to visit if they need a little extra time for talking or processing," she announced.

Photo: Aerial view of Southern Lehigh Middle School (image source: Google Maps)