Boy Sets Himself on Fire in School Cafeteria

16-year-old refused to explain suicide attempt in online note
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 27, 2014 2:40 PM CST
Boy Sets Himself on Fire in School Cafeteria
A police cruiser blocks the entrance to Standley Lake HIgh School, where classes were cancelled after an apparent suicide attempt by a student, in Westminster, Colo., Monday, Jan. 27, 2014.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Horror in Colorado: A student walked into his high school's cafeteria today, doused himself in oil, and set himself on fire, burning 80% of his body and leaving people grasping for answers, NBC 9 Colorado reports. The 16-year-old, whose name was withheld, is now hospitalized in critical condition. He posted a note on social media earlier saying that "this is not someone's fault. I had this planned for years." He added that friends tried talking him out of it over the weekend, but "if anyone says that they know why I did this ... nobody knows and nobody will."

He only survived because two cafeteria workers at Standley Lake High School in Westminster quickly put out the fire, reports KDVR. Now police are investigating what led up to the suicide attempt and whether any threats were made against the school, ABC Denver reports. "It’s concerning because we’re seeing more and more of the incidents and you’re never prepared," said a police spokeswoman. But students, who were sent home for the day, may get the real brunt of it: "It's heartbreaking," said one; a student who attempts suicide is "crying for help somehow. Unfortunately, all of these other students are going to be crying for help because of seeing what they saw." (More Colorado stories.)

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