Philadelphia, PA – The Pennridge School District is grappling with the devastating loss of Malik Kelly, a young high school student who tragically died by suicide on September 16, 2024. Malik, a 10-year-old boy with a passion for business and a love for dinosaurs, was known for his thoughtful nature and creative ideas aimed at helping his community.
Malik Kelly’s family, particularly his mother Tynisha Kelly, is deeply heartbroken by his untimely death. Tynisha shared that Malik had experienced bullying during his time at Philadelphia’s Samuel Pennypacker Elementary School in the West Oak Lane neighborhood. On the day of his death, Malik returned home and described his day as the "worst day ever." His mother revealed that he had written a list of the students who had harassed him, a distressing sign of the pain he had been enduring.
The news of Malik’s death has shaken the Pennridge community, with many expressing concern over the impact of bullying on young students. "I want to ensure that no parent ever has to go through what I am going through at this moment. These children are in pain," Tynisha Kelly stated, calling attention to the emotional struggles children face and the urgent need to address bullying in schools.
Malik’s obituary highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit, as he had recently invested in stocks such as Nike, Microsoft, and Amazon with money from his birthday. His dreams of supporting the homeless and building shelters for women and children were cut short by this tragic event.
The community continues to mourn the loss of Malik Kelly, with a vigil held in his memory. The Pennridge School District has yet to provide a formal statement, but support services are expected to be available for students and families affected by this heartbreaking loss.
As the investigation into Malik’s death continues, his family hopes to bring awareness to the issue of bullying and prevent other children from suffering in silence. The community has been urged to stand together in ensuring no child feels isolated or pushed to such extremes.
Support is being provided to the Kelly family as they navigate this painful time, and the school district is taking steps to address the issue of bullying within its schools.