Texas: 11-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza reportedly died by suicide on Saturday, February 8, five days after she was found unresponsive at her Gainesville home. Her funeral was held on Wednesday morning.
While the young girl's suicide is currently being investigated by the school police, her mother claimed that she was bullied by other students in her class over her family's immigration status. Carranza reportedly attended the Gainesville Intermediate School.
"All week I've been waiting for a miracle—waiting for my daughter to get better. But unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done. My daughter never showed changes. I mean, there was never anything that gave me a sign that she was suffering from bullying," her mother Marbella Carranza told CNN.
Adding that she was unaware of the bullying her daughter was facing in school, she further told the publication, "It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never told me what was happening with my daughter."
"It appears she would go once or twice a week to counselling to report what was happening. (I want) justice because it's not fair—the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter," she added.
School's Response to the Bullying Allegations
The Gainesville Independent School District refused to confirm whether it was aware of reports of bullying involving Carranza.
"Whenever we receive a report of bullying, we respond swiftly to ensure all students are safe physically and emotionally. While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts," the district told CNN in a statement.
In an email to the deceased girl's parents, another school from the district condemned the incident, describing it as a "serious accident". However, it did not mention anything about the bullying allegations.
Netizens Condemn the Incident
As the news of Carranza's death surfaced on the internet, several users expressed their dismay with the incident. Addressing the bullying allegations, a user wrote on X, "I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of 11-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza—a young girl in Texas whose life was cut short after enduring relentless bullying about her family’s immigration status. As a father of a young daughter, this news strikes me deeply."
I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of 11-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza—a young girl in Texas whose life was cut short after enduring relentless bullying about her family’s immigration status. As a father of a young daughter, this news strikes me deeply. pic.twitter.com/a4XIgbjAuS
— Ricki Ruiz (@RickiRuizOR) February 21, 2025
Calling out US President Donald Trump for "normalising and emboldening public racism" towards Latinos, another user wrote, "Officials and right-wing media further fan the flames until the hateful, racist rhetoric coming from those in power reaches our children—and it fuels real harm. When the White House normalizes bullying, it trickles down to our communities, our schools, and our children."
Jocelynn Rojo Carranza should still be here. We lost this beautiful child because of hatred and bullying of immigrants normalized by adults. No child should ever feel this kind of despair. No family should have to endure this pain.
— Nanette D. Barragán (@RepBarragan) February 20, 2025
People are emboldened by Trump’s normalization… pic.twitter.com/KuiGAOHQbx
Have a look at some other reactions here:
Jocelynn Rojo Carranza died at the hands of an unrelenting regime hell bent on terrorizong marginalized communities. An 11 (ELEVEN!) year old was so afraid of being separated from her parents to where she thought dying from suicide was her best option. God have mercy on us all
— Justin A. Moore, ESQ. (@_ja_moore) February 20, 2025
#JocelynnRojoCarranza
— Vonnetta L. West (@VonnettaLWest) February 20, 2025
This baby ended her life after enduring months from her sixth-grade classmates, who targeted her over her family’s immigration status—with some even threatening to report them to ICE.
This should be a better world, with a collectively more humane humanity. pic.twitter.com/0n4gWUm03V
This is 11 year old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza.
— david (@realdavidonline) February 20, 2025
She took her life after students repeatedly bullied her about her family's immigration status & threatened to call ICE. The school was aware but never notified her family.
Everyone involved must be held accountable.
RIP little angel pic.twitter.com/Yd8a6CsQ6B
it should shatter everyone's heart that US propaganda scapegoating immigrants for its own failures indoctrinates even young children into violent racism, and that victims who beg for help are abandoned by our schools. rest in peace, Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, 11, suicide.
— sofie ☭ (@darlingube) February 20, 2025
"Jocelynn Rojo Carranza died at the hands of an unrelenting regime hell bent on terrorizong marginalized communities. An 11 (ELEVEN!) year old was so afraid of being separated from her parents to where she thought dying from suicide was her best option. God have mercy on us all," another user wrote.