Curtis Taylor was 14 years old at the time of his death on March 22, 1993. He was an 8th grade middle school student in Iowa. For at least three years before his death, Curtis had been the victim of bullies at school. After a particularly difficult day, Curtis met with a school counselor to discuss the harassment. He was distraught and mentioned suicide. The counselor provided Curtis with printed information and the telephone number of a suicide hotline. Curtis was encouraged to meet with the counselor the next day. A bully is an individual who tends to torment others, either through verbal harassment or physical assaults, or through more subtle methods of coercion. ... Suicide (from Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of willfully ending ones own life. ...

On the evening of March 22, 1993, Curtis Taylor went into his bedroom and shot himself once in the head. He was found by his 5-year-old brother. His death has been cited by researches as one of the earliest identified incidents of bullycide. Curtis was the subject of an article by journalist Bob Greene. Bullycide is a portmanteau formed from the words bully and suicide and/or homicide. ... Bob Greenes column mugshot for the Chicago Tribune. ...