A seventh-grader is dead after overdosing on fentanyl at a Connecticut school, where dozens of bags of powdered opioids were found this week, WTNH-TV reports.
The 13-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, died around 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a hospital, according to the television station. He had been in “grave condition” since Thursday when he collapsed in a gym at the Sports and Medical Science Academy in Hartford.
A school nurse performed CPR on the boy, who was unconscious until medics arrived and brought him to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Investigators say evidence of fentanyl was found near the boy. Two other students who may have been exposed to the opioid were hospitalized for observation after reporting dizziness. The two other students, who were both 12 years old, were released from the hospital on Saturday.
Police say they believe all three students encountered the substance around the same time, according to WVIT-TV.
Officials evacuated the school and took steps to ensure that students were not contaminated before bringing in drug-sniffing dogs to search the building. The search yielded 40 small bags of apparent fentanyl powder, which were discovered in the gym and two classrooms, according to the television station.
Authorities believe students brought the drugs into the school, WVIT-TV reports. However, no arrests have been made yet and police are continuing to investigate.
Hartford Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez said the school is offering counseling for both students and staff.
“[Thursday] was a very challenging day, a hard day, a scary day for our school community at The Sport and Medical Sciences Academy and our entire Hartford Public Schools community,” she said.
The school shut down on Friday so it can be cleaned. On Saturday, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin issued a statement about the boy’s death.
“Our city grieves for this child lost, for his loved ones, his friends, his teachers, and the entire SMSA family,” Bronin said in the statement, according to the television station.
“We still have much to learn about the circumstances of this tragedy, and about how a child had access to such a shocking quantity of such deadly drugs, and our police department will continue their investigation and seek to hold accountable the adults who ultimately are responsible for this child’s death.”
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