Months after the passing of 13-year-old Gabriel Palacios, his family is holding the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) responsible in a legal claim that says bullying and harassment at Coronado Middle School were substantial factors leading to his suicide. Expressing condolences to the family, the district rejected the complaint.
“While attending Coronado Middle School the bullying became so aggressive that five months ago, on April 10, he decided to take his own life,” said Orsolya Palacios, Gabriel’s mother.
Her remarks in English were followed by her husband Felipe Palacios, who expressed similar sentiments in Spanish during a press conference on Sept. 18 outside of district offices.
The parents said two months prior he accidentally posted a private video and some images on social media that fell into the wrong hands, leading to the material’s circulation throughout the halls of the school.
“CMS leadership was made aware immediately, but they swept it under the rug and they left my son exposed and extremely vulnerable,” Orsolya added. “For two months, my son was relentlessly bullied, tormented and outcasted under the noses of his school caregivers.”
Gomez Trial Attorneys filed the complaint against Coronado Unified on Sept. 3. The claim does not specify financial demand amounts.
On Sept. 25, CUSD leaders voted to reject the complaint against the district.
John Gomez, founder and lead trial attorney at the firm, said he intends to file suit against the school district “and all those responsible for this horrifying and preventable tragedy” during the conference held one week before the district’s rejection.
“We look forward to obtaining full justice for Gabriel and to continue the fight against bullying in his name,” he added.
Mercedes Smith, president of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization and a suicide prevention advocate, said she will support Gabriel’s family and advocate for the best possible suicide prevention solutions to prevent such a horrible tragedy from reoccurring.
“In my opinion the uncomfortable truth we must take responsibility for is that we failed Gabriel and we failed his family,” said Smith during the conference. “No family and no child deserves this.”
District officials conferred with legal counsel in closed session during a special governing board meeting Thursday, Sept. 25.
The governing board, excluding Trustee Scot Youngblood who was absent, unanimously voted to reject the complaint.
The district issued a statement about the decision that said it considers facts in the complaint are misinformed and do not support the claims made against CUSD.
“Coronado Unified School District officials are deeply saddened by the death of seventh grade student Gabriel Palacios in April of 2025 and have extended deepest condolences and support to his family,” says the statement.
According to the statement, the district will not comment outside of the legal process and pledged to fully defend itself and its staff against the claims made.
“Obviously no amount of money can make up for the loss of (Gabriel),” said Gomez. “More importantly, you heard from (Orsolya and Felipe Palacios), they want to make sure that (CUSD) changes its ways. …They want to make sure that Gabriel’s legacy is that kids are safer in school, better protected from bullying, and better cared for by their caregivers.”
Complaint outlines bullying
According to the six-page claim, Gabriel was a neurodivergent seventh-grader with medical diagnoses of Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, and OCD. He had been enrolled in an independent education plan (IEP) since 2020.
The claim says Gabriel had experienced bullying since he started attending Coronado Middle School, and his parents lodged multiple complaints with school officials to no avail.
In early February, the complaint says, Gabriel inadvertently posted a nude image or video of himself on a social media platform operated by Snapchat. He attempted to delete the material upon realizing the mistake, but a peer saved copies.
Since then, the claim continues, “(Gabriel) was being aggressively bullied by his peers…Everyone at school seemed to know about and wanted to discuss the Snapchat incident.”
The complaint says Orsolya met with school leaders to request that the school take action to protect her son, and she identified students suspected of sharing the image/video during school hours, on school property. According to the claim, those students denied knowing anything about the subject and no further action was taken.
The claim alleges that district officials failed to protect Gabriel even after his parents made repeated pleas to stop the bullying and safeguard his welfare. While this was occurring, the Palacios’ also allege that district officials unfairly disciplined their son, adding to his anxiety and fears.
“Gabriel repeatedly communicated that he was scared to attend school at CMS,” the complaint says.
“CUSD breached this duty of care by failing to implement adequate anti-bullying policies and procedures despite knowledge of ongoing harassment of (Gabriel)…and failing to provide adequate supervision for a known vulnerable student with an active IEP,” says the complaint. “Overall, CUSD failed to train their staff on anti-bullying protocols, failed to supervise personnel handling vulnerable student populations, and retained personnel despite a pattern of inappropriate conduct toward disabled students.”
The complaint says CUSD also failed to properly address the distribution of child pornography on school grounds.
“As a direct and proximate result of CUSD’s negligent and wrongful conduct, (Gabriel) and his family have suffered severe emotional distress and mental anguish, loss of companionship, society, and comfort, and economic damages in the form of medical expenses and funeral and burial costs all according to proof at trial,” the complaint says.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.
