Jeremy Wade Delle was a 15-year-old sophomore who had just recently been transferred to Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas, from Bryan Adams in Dallas. On the 8th of January, 1991, Jeremy came to school armed with a .357-caliber Magnum.
That morning, Jeremy arrived to class late and the teacher in his second-period English class, Fay Barnett, told Jeremy to get an admittance slip from the school’s office. Instead of retrieving the admittance slip, however, Jeremy went to his locker and retrieved the gun he had brought along with him.
When Jeremy arrived back in class, he walked directly to the front of the classroom, stated: “Miss, I got what I really went for,” and the placed the barrel of the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger, killing himself in front of his teacher and 30 of his classmates.1
Before anybody had any chance to react, Jeremy was dead at the front of the classroom. Brian Jackson, had been opening his locker just outside the classroom as the horror unfolded. He described a loud bang “like somebody had just slammed a book on a desk.” Within seconds, however, he heard screams emanating from inside the classroom and students began to run into the hallways. Brian approached the classroom and peered in: “The teacher was standing against the wall crying and shaking,” he said.
The young witnesses would be ushered into another classroom while the school district’s volunteer crisis team arrived on scene to speak with the students through their grief. Since Jeremy had only been at the school for two months, he had not yet made many close bonds. According to his teacher, he was more of a “loner” who spent most of his time on his own. “He was real quiet and he acted down at times. He acted sad,” said Koury Kashiem. Lisa Moore, who knew Jeremy from the in-school suspension program, said that she and Jeremy would pass notes to one another. He often signed off with: “Write back.” However, on the Monday, he had signed off with: “Later days.”
Before Jeremy’s suicide, he had been struggling psychologically and had spent some time as a hospital-bound student at a psychiatric hospital.2 His attendance at school had been sporadic and he had met with Jeremy and his father to discuss the problem. Furthermore, Jeremy had been in counselling with his father, who was separated from his mother. Richardson school district spokeswoman Susan Dacus-Wilson stated: “High school administrators knew he was a troubled child, and they were trying to do as much as they could for him.”
An investigation would determine that Jeremy had stolen the gun from a female acquaintance of his father.
In the wake of the suicide, a number of Jeremy’s classmates expressed tremendous guilt for not trying to befriend him. One boy named Danny stated: “Everybody I talked to said the ultimate same thing: They wish they could have said something to him before he did it.”3
A girl who attended church with Jeremy at Casa View Baptist Church would reveal that Jeremy had been “looking for love and wasn’t quite sure where to find it.” She said that Jeremy was a very open person and had discussed suicide in the past. Shortly before his death, he had handed this girl an envelope and asked her to give it to another friend.4
This envelope contained a suicide note. Jeremy had written several suicide notes and sent several cassettes to friends before taking his own life. One of them read:
“To whoever I decide this is to, I have a lot going on, a little too much, more than what I can handle. I’m in too much pain, and I just want YOU to understand why I’m doing this. I don’t hate myself I hate what’s going on in my life, my parents, a new school. I feel like I don’t fit in nowhere. I realize that there will be friends that will try to ask me why. Because I feel like I have to, I feel it’s the only way. I figure it’s been so many ya’ll won’t even know I’m gone and as for ones that tried to hurt me, you didn’t. Sorry, Nancy, by the time you get this letter I will have blown my head off, aka suicide, better known as (last way out). News flash – not your fault. It’s Michelle’s along with about 137.5 other problems. I was just writing to see if you wanted to go to the funeral. Call my house and ask for my Dad, 690-5338. At least you didn’t have to hear the boom. Love, Jeremy Wade Delle.“
The tragic suicide would inspire the infamous Pearl Jam song, Jeremy. Eddie Veder said he had read about Jeremy in the newspaper and felt “the need to take that small article and make something of it – to give that action, to give it reaction, to give it more importance.”
Footnotes:
- The Dallas Moring News, 9 January, 1991 – “Richardson Teenager Kills Himself in Front of Classmates”
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 January, 1991 – “Teen Suicide”
- The Dallas Morning News, 9 January, 1992 – “Crisis Teams Respond Quickly to Teen’s Suicide”
- The Dallas Morning News, 10 January, 1991 – “Crisis Lines Busy”
Comments:
Always, always, ALWAYS make an effort with the quiet lonely kids. You and your words may be that one thing that they need to survive and choose to live. </3
Never downplay suicidal ideation. No matter what is either a sign of someone on the verge of killing themself, seriously thinking about it, or some other emotional or personality disorder .
In any case they need help.
Poor kid! I am sorry Jeremy for the world failed you.
Read some of the comments, and it made me wonder, where does the hate so many people project get created? And how can you feel like that towards a person you have never met, spoken to, or, even seen? I suppose there are a lot of weak, scared, and blind within society who have little, or, no self esteem. Like Jeremy, we should try to connect with them and help them find some worth in their lives.
As clear, concise and informative as a specific news article needs to be. I believe all the pertinent facts are present in a professional news fashion. The only question unanswered is why did he feel something so final was a correct response to his agony, whether real (child of divorce, relocation…) and/or perceived (he didn’t belong, lonely though not actively seeking a niche among fellow students…). I just had a friend end his issues with war trauma horribly and I just don’t get it. How is ending one’s life to be viewed by those who left behind? In a way,… Read more »
Beautiful Michael
In my experience its because when you do reach out for help and support you end up feeling like a burden. For example mum sometimes will comment about how everyone is always relying on her etc. Even though I don’t ever ask for much. I myself just don’t want to burden everyone with how I feel. Because family mostly just tell me to just chill out and get out and try and be happy. But as someone with serious mental illness its just not that easy. And I have tried ringing certain numbers for help whilst I’m mega upset and… Read more »
I feel you on everything u said plus u just want to get outta your own mind and just make the shit STOP somehow. Then add in your a man you gotta be tuff or your a parent yourself and you should be the rock, when u just feel like everyone is better off without your ass being around!! But maybe there is hope IT CANT RAIN ALL THE TIME, live for the good times whenever they come or live for someone else give thier life meaning with your life that’s what I’m trying to do I hope this finds… Read more »
Brother I suffer from mental illness and have played with fate a few times put myself in front of bullets, been stabbed, overdosed a couple times, jumped out of cars & tried to hang myself but the fucking thing snapped cause I’m 6’4 and about 285 shit isnt made for my weight. Nowadays I’m older and haven’t tried anything in years I think I stay alive because my father isnt in my life and I feel I HAVE to be in my kids now but at the same time I feel they would be better off without me. Getting rid… Read more »
@freeman4real, you’re wrong, people will listen to you and there is help out there. I have a mental illness too, and it’s really hard to get help sometimes–I’ve had terrible advice and terrible therapists before, but if you just keep looking, there’s help and it will change your outlook. I understand about the pain. Please don’t kill yourself; your kids really do need you.
Your kids could never be better off without you in their lives. Never think otherwise. You are loved. You have purpose. All negative thoughts & feelings about yourself are straight from Satan. Seek Jesus, he loves you, knows everything about you and wants you to know you have a purpose. Life is a spiritual battle, don’t let Satan win. Unfortunately Satan was the winner for Jeremy in this story, Satan defeated him by making him believe there was no option, no one cared and he was worthless. Satan attacks all of us with such ideas, most will never admit their… Read more »
Unfortunately, and by no means do I want you to take offense to this, but it’s very easy for everyone to say our kids, family, friends, pets etc, need us and will miss us. Until you have been in that frame of mind, and I pray you never are, you don’t understand how much of a burden we feel we are to all of the above. It’s horrible. And logistically we know this but logic and mental are not equal.
Amen
Well written! It is hard to understand what we don’t know and probably won’t ever know. My advice is to always be kind especially to those who are quiet, deemed the outcast, loners, the ones you see being tormented and bullied! Always be the bigger person you never know who’s life you might be saving! Everyone needs a friend or even just to be acknowledged. Parents should make it a habit to teach their children about the reality and outcomes of kids who are bullied! Teach your kids to be kind!
I’ve had intense suicidal thoughts multiple times of my life, I have never attempted but the thoughts are awful and constant when I am in that place. I have this thing called PMDD(premenstrual dysphoric disorder) that is a severe fluctuation of hormones during the menstrual cycle that leads to severe depression, anxiety and anger. Literally just a hormonal imbalance. But it makes everything in my life feel grey, numb. Like nothing can give you any sort of emotion and there’s no way out. It feels like being at the bottom of a deep well and you want to get out… Read more »
i think with all my heart that all of you suck ass and should kill yourself
Never bully or put anyone down! weather it’s school kids, adolescent or adult.
Talk and befriend The Quiet Ones…They need friends, just like You!
Who is Michelle???
true that, HTF is Michelle?
Jeremy is a very brave young man, very brave.. I don’t have the kind of bravery he had to even try!
I went to Bryan Adams – the school Jeremy attended before going to Richardson. I was a bit of a snob but extremely shy in school. I wish I had been more aware of others who were suffering as I was with loneliness and depression. As a very elderly lady now, I can only imagine how much deeper that depression goes in this fast-moving society. To reiterate, I wish I had noticed the other kids who are feeling the way I was and had tried to make a connection. We all long for recognition and acknowledgement of our feelings. I’m… Read more »
What a jerk traumatizing his classmates and teacher that did nothing to him. He’s not brave. He didn’t deserve a song about him.
Wow such compassion! Maybe those kids that bullied him were in fact in that class! I do believe it was all the bullying and being traumatized by his peers that lead up to the tragic events that unfolded that day in front of his teacher and peers! You don’t know his reasoning to why he decided to end his life in that classroom! Nor does it sound like you care that this boy was bullied so badly that it lead to this tragedy! Sounds like you are quite the bully yourself, maybe you were one of the kids That picked… Read more »
I miss you J.D. . Once again its that time of year. I never forget you. I still think of you and Junior High. Tough times, we barely made it through. I wish I took you serious then I really do. Far to often we we just look at the book rather than open and read its chapters. I miss you bro.i love you bro. In my heart is were I keep Jeremy.
I just read some of these comments here. I am shocked. A young man is dead and you are arguing about politics. Shame on you. This is a tragedy. You all ( both sides) are self centered idiots. Show some respect you jerks
@ABC 123: I totally agree – I couldn’t believe how quickly this turned into a political debate and more division. Live your life in kindness and just live – showing kindness to all – and we would all be better off. Probably wouldn’t care who voted for whom, as we would be a much happier society in general. Ridiculous!
If this happened in 2021 he would have shot 12 kids before getting arrested. I was in high school when this happened and teen suicide was something we all were aware of. I lost a friend of mine who decided a shotgun to the head was better than his life. We were just starting to become close friends too. I still think about him randomly when I see or hear things that we did, or songs we liked and listened to. RIP Jason, and Jeremy as well.
Just found that the official video of “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam is no longer shareable from YouTube.
Jeremy still alive was making a point know that I am eternal but not everyone believes like me
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=official+video+of+%e2%80%9cJeremy%e2%80%9d+by+Pearl+Jam&view=detail&mid=B2CC4134D55EE6046968B2CC4134D55EE6046968&FORM=VIRE
This is why kids should always try to include those who you see being left out not included. I can bet had one person shown this kid friendship things would have went a lot differently! This is so so tragic yet it happens all the time, all the time kids who are dealing with social anxiety and shyness, awkwardness etc. these kids need a helping hand a person who is willing to give a hand and include these quiet ones into their group. One person can make a difference One person can save that one lonely life!! We must raise… Read more »
What’s phukd up is this boys decision to die way too early turned into political drama about someone who wasn’t even president at the time in these comments.I expect the trolls to say what there saying trolls gonna troll all others letting them bother them or talking about politics like today’s political crap had anything to do with his death dishonor and take away from Jeremy’s death. Just like the short paragraph in the paper that caused Veder to wright the song. So that the true meaning and importance wasn’t lost. so that the real tragedy of Jeremy wasn’t forgotten… Read more »
The fact you guys are arguing over Trump and Biden is so retarded just read the article. Read it and just shut up, a bunch of butt-hurt wannabe politicians to argue on a page dedicated to his death and its effect on people. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
Jeremy was my friend. We rode the bus together and chatted. I was there when he chose to end his life. There are so many things, positive and negative that can be taken from this. I have chosen to take a life lesson and have dedicated my life to working with and helping children going through many situations that could easily lead to suicide, or in today’s world, even worse. Of course, witnessing my friend end his life left me with a lifetime of PTSD, but I chose to take that experience and use it to understand so many things… Read more »
This is why I always tell anyone to be kind to each person you come in contact with. Whether it is in person face to face or even on social media where I see so much keyboard bullies. It’s so much worse online where you have people hide behind those keys and are down right evil. All it takes is one word to either makes someone’s day or end it. We has humans have to be better we have to want to do better.
I almost WAS that kid. I can remember having suicidal thoughts as early as age 7. Much of the problem lies with mean family members who have no idea that their kid is on the autism spectrum and doesn’t belong in public schools. But back in the 1970s, it was a lot easier for parents to get away with being abusive or neglectful, and nobody knew what Asperger’s is. Everyone knew about the links between teasing, bullying, and suicide, but it was VERY taboo to openly talk about it. Parents would just say “it’ll toughen the kid up”. Well, I’m… Read more »
How the HELL did this comment section derail like this over 2-3 trumper trolls… The host of this website isn’t even from the US!!! Poor Emily lmao I’m so sorry. Good article. Couple typos.
Every year at Christmas, I think what your life could have been. You would be in your mid 40’s with no parental problems, dealing with your own teenagers… never forgotten, always missed. Continue to rest…
Trolls setting up MAGA hate. Daddy’s new girl gotta 357. Helping you along? Eddy’s gotta pile a cash playin this kids demons. A Cured Psych don’t go back to the Doc. Doc don’t make no money. Mama still mad at Daddy. Daddy still mad at mom. Both want him to hate the other. Look what you and this world has become.
MAGA-ts are the whiniest, pussy bitches ever. Frightened of and hating everything except for their own white trash trailer park morons. MAGA-ts are also more prone to kill other people than themselves; not even considerate enough to take themselves out of the gene pool. Fuck all of you.
3:30 time of death apparently, sounds like another psyop, be surprised if it truly happened. Taking one witness account from someone outside the classroom instead of how many kids inside it?? 3:30 lol classic serpent number the elites love to use. #sandyhookhoax
Imagine getting on a podcast forum about a young boys suicide, reading it, and then going into the comments to argue and debate about political views that have nothing to do with what you just read.
What makes the song “infamous”? I think you meant “famous”.
Jeremy story helped me to prolong my own, even to this day. I can see why and I can totally understand the how. Also the irony of the aftermath, of people lamenting not engaging with him. this is always the case, people don’t want to hear what you have to say, they get uncomfortable and prefer too take the “thoughts and prayers” route, but they still wish they could have saved the boy. (as long as it doesn’t take much effort) so what’s better to traumatize them for life by blowing your head off in the same room while looking… Read more »