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Uncle Blames Bullying For Staten Island Teen’s Death

Amanda Cummings An Apparent Target In School, Through Texts And Online

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Amanda Diane Cummings (Credit: Family Handout)

Amanda Diane Cummings (Credit: Family Handout)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A 15-year-old Staten Island girl died Monday of injuries she suffered last week after being struck by a city bus.

A relative said the death of Amanda Diane Cummings was ultimately the result of bullying and that the teen had a suicide note on her when she was struck by the bus on Hylan Boulevard by Hunter Avenue around 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 27.

1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg reports


The NYPD said a witness saw Cummings jump in front of the bus, according to a report in the Staten Island Advance.

The girl’s uncle, Keith Cummings, said the teen was tormented by bullies at school and was dealing with romantic problems.

He said the teen was looking forward to the Christmas break and was fine over the holidays until an ugly break up with her boyfriend sent her over the edge. The day before she was struck, he said Amanda Cummings received an e-mail from her boyfriend, dumping her.

“It said, without so and so, who was this kid, there was no life at all. I don’t want to live at all,” Keith Cummings said.

Keith Cummings said bullies mocked his niece and took her phone, shoes and jacket.

“She had to be picked up from school because she was worried about being beat up,” he told 1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg.

At New Dorp High school, where Amanda Cummings was a sophomore, one friend agreed that she was targeted.

“People calling her names, stuff on Facebook about her, people really nasty to her for no reason,” junior Marisa Ryan told CBS 2′s Slattery.

The family said even as she lay dying in a hospital, text messages and Facebook postings, now erased, lashed out at her.

“The other comment, ‘once a ho, always a ho,’” Keith Cummings said. “This is ridiculous. We lost an innocent life over kiddie bullying. Boys going out with younger girls … that’s not good.”

While the family wants justice, police are looking into it, to see whether bullying was a key factor in the tragic death.

By one estimate, as many as 160,000 students stay home on any given day because they’re afraid of bullies.

Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.

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  • Eadmund

    Get Off FACEBOOK people. It destroys families, marriages, and lives.

    • Bobbie

      I so totally agree. I am on there but it has caused me so many problems and lies and made people I love hate me.

  • Sad

    Lets not stop at the Bullies, get that Boy Friend also. How dear he break up with her right after christmas, the brute. By the way I have heard all races call a female a HO. Just watch Maury.

  • Amaurys Cerdeiros

    I BELIEVE THAT THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE PARENTS OF THIS POOR GIRL, ARE THE FIRST ONES TO BE BLAMED FOR HER DEATH, DUE TO A SEVERE AND PATHETIC LACK OF ACTION FROM BOTH PARTIES. IF I AM RIGHT, I READ SOMEWHERE IN THE NEWS, THAT HER BULLYING WAS BEING CARRIED FOR A FEW YEARS, AND NOBODY DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADOPTED TO PREVENT HER DEATH. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GIVE HELP TO PEOPLE IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. CHOICES THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TRAGEDY. OBVIOUSLY, NOBODY DID ANYTHING ! (NOT EVEN REPORTED IT TO THE N.Y.P.D.!) CASES LIKE THIS ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! MAIN CULPRIT? LACK OF ACTION WHEN THE “TIMING” IS RIGHT ! YOU CAN BE SURE THAT, IF THAT POOR GIRL WERE MY DAUGHTER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST ONE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE HELL THAT SHE WENT THRU! ANY TYPE OF ACTION!

    • A very sad NJ Dad

      I agree, as parents we are their advocates, their Voice, Parents need to stay involved in their daily lives ask questions, monitor facebook, know the parents of their close friends…. Stay on top of your children and encourage them to talk to you openly without bias opinions. I truly feel for this family, no parent should lose a child to something this foolish…. This could have been prevented… please do not take this as finger pointing, which was not the intent… But do take it as advise, to prevent this from happening again to someone else..

  • Nathalie

    How Dare you.. you disgust me, keep your sick comments to yourself,

  • Linda Elsey

    A beautiful young girl to have her life end so tragically. The animals who bully others should be charged and prosecuted for this is truly a crime. These bullies must have very low self-esteem and feel very inadequate to harass someone so beautiful. Heartbreaking. If it had been one of mine, I would have been at that school every day until Administration put a stop to it.

    • Carla Jen McCarthy

      I agree!

  • Nathalie

    I have spent the last week thinking about this whole thing, My daughter is the older half sister of Amanda, ( they share a biological Father)I have been reading the Face Book posts and now the posts on these news pages. I am truly sad by the loss of Amanda I had the honor of spending time with her earlier this year, I know people tend to say kind things about a person who has passed away. But I promise you that this girl was truly a wonderful person, so smart and funny she read us a poem she wrote and she had a very deep soul. When you spoke to her she had a maturity beyond her age. She took great joy in her nephew Nykolas (my grandson). She really was an old soul, The kids that drove her to this should be held accountable. My fondest wish is that these kids be held up for the same public ridicule as Amanda was. I am not a vindictive person even in the smallest measure. But the anger I have for these young people is beyond my ability to forgive. I will not blame Staten Island since I grew up there and raised my daughter there, I will blame the parents for not caring enough to know what their own kids are up to. I knew every thing my daughter was up to. I made sure she understood that everything we do there is a consequence good or bad. I was in the park in South Beach this summer with the baby and my daughter when a young girl maybe 10 was riding her bike in a area where there were small children, she hit a little boy maybe 2/3 knocked him down with her bike and ran over his little hand, she did not even stop as a matter of fact she looked angry that the smaller child was in her way, I grabed the back of her seat and stopped her I said to her you just hit this little boy with your bike dont you know that you should stop and see if he is ok or even say your sorry, this little girl looked me and the face (an adult) and told me to F@#k off. Her mother than came up to me and demanded to know why I was speaking to her kid. I told her what happened and the mother tried to draw me into a Physical altercation. I was stunned. I know that this little girl will grow up to be just like the girls who thought is was fine to torture Amanda, we as parents have one basic job and that is to raise children who have a soul and are decent human beings. The School should yes put a stop to this behavior when they see it, but it is up to US the parents to make sure our kids know this is never allowed. I think the people who are posting on all of these web sights need to stop using this tragic event as an agenda to voice their political and social garbage. Please.

    • M.A.D

      I agree. When my son was in JHS a sixth grader begged him to help her, she said that a boy kept touching her and would not stop. My son grabbed the kid and put him against the wall and told him not to touch the girl again. My son was suspended for his actions, the teachers and administrators were not interested in the why.. they did not care. The girl finally got the nerve to tell her mother who contacted me to thank me for raising such fine young man. The boy never bothered the girl again because he knew she had a “big brother” watching over her.
      This young lady was so pretty and we will never see the great things she could had done. Why, because a bunch of kids were jealous of her?? Where are parents?? It takes a village to raise a child and everyone needs to be involved in a positive way.

  • M.A.D

    WHY!!!!!!!

  • Blasterific

    Eggplant?

  • Kaitlyn

    This is horrible. I knew Amanda. I mean, I wasn’t the closest of friends with her, but I knew her enough to know that this didn’t have to happen. She was an amazing person who didn’t deserve this, especially at such a young age. Even the guy who caused her to do this won’t show up to school anymore because he’s too much of a coward to face everyone because he knows that everone wants to kick his butt. And to ALL the people who tormented her and caused her to do this, the least you could do is stop being such immature children for ONE day and attend that poor girl’s funeral because YOU’RE thw ones that did this. We all had to loose someone we love because you can’t grow up.

    • Roger Funk

      I am sorry Kaitlyn that you lost a friend and that is so sad. I don’t think though they can go to her funneral Kaitlyn the family member wants to sue the bullys. I don’t blame the guy they broke up it happens but no reason for this bullying. I wish you good luck Kaitlyn and don’t let anybody bully you.

      • Roger Funk

        I want make a website to prevent this from happening theses storys break my heart. Children comitted sucide. Yes they should grow up but they wouldn’t be invited to the funneral probably.

      • Kaitlyn

        Thank you. And you’re right, they probably aren’t invited to the funeral. But even so, they should pay their respects. No one deserves this, even those who might not have been the nicest person in the world. And trust me, I won’t let that happen to me anymore. I used to be bullied when I was little but now I stand up for myself, especially when I see this kind of thing happen.

        • jackie

          I just heard the news and they said “police investigated and found no evidence of bullying”. I don’t believe it!!! What did I say earlier? They will sweep it under the rug and that’s exactly what is happening!

  • Cheryl Bunn

    I think if there was enough law suits against the SCHOOLS that this could not happen on a TAX PAYERS DIME. We are told BY LAW they have to attend this place for an education. And once there was a report made about how this child was treated then it is the ADULTS who we entrust to supervise the well being of the child while on school grounds. If this happened at your home or a neighbors the adults would have been arrested for CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Allowing others and known parties to contribute to the harm of another is unlawful. Then this will make the ANIMALS that are doing this become accountable. We have police in our schools now so let them spend all day writing citations for JUVENILE court and fining the parents of the ANIMALS that want to torment others.

    • Jackie

      I’m a teacher, and trust me, someone in administration knew about this child being bullied. There is only so much a teacher can do but the administrator is the one who has ultimate power. But because it’s “too much trouble” they sweep it under the rug. I had it happen 3 different times last year where one boy sexually assaulted 2 different girls and racially bullied another. Was he ever suspended? Once, because I insisted on it. Then I was targeted, bullied and written up as a result of my demand. (You don’t get written up after 16 years of a clean record). So, please Channel 2 News. Get to the bottom of this. It’s about time schools and administrators be held accountable for NOT doing their job. Thank you. My sympathy to that beautiful girl’s family.

      • Vik

        Shame on you, New Dorp High School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any of you in that pathetic excuse for an educational institution. the principal, mani/pedi wearing teacher brats, and the cowardly punks that drove this poor girl to take her own life. May you always have the soul of this girl on your heads and carry this guilt around — because YOU ALL SHOULD FEEL GUILTY — for the rest of your lives. As for teacher’s ratings — let’s start with New Dorp High School. THEY ALL FAILED!!!!!!

        • Roger Funk

          Sad but I hope the children grow up I don’t wish anything against them if we push to much they might kill themselves and we dont want more deaths.

  • Mayor McCheese

    So many people have had bullying experiences. this is just one more tragic consequence. Finally, we as a society have to take this seriously. It starts and ends with the parents. Remove kids from school who can not conform to acceptable forms of behavior – and that includes NOT BULLYING. Let their parents find another place for them. It should be their problem. maybe then, they will take it seriously.

  • Rick

    Parents need to understand that anything posted on facebook is no different from mailing a letter or using a telephone. Its correspondence, its communication, and thus there is a personal responsibility involved, and consequences for your actions thereof.

  • LG

    Stupid teens now days stupid facebook crap to damn serious now days.

    • Larry M.

      I thoroghly agree. Facebook, not the internet, is 666 ,,,,,,

  • Maestro

    An arrest is a must. The police need to tkae bullying very seriously.

    • DCLaw-1

      On what charge? Is there a statute in NY that would allow for a prosecution in this case?

      • Blasterific

        Yeah you being an A-hole

  • Mike M

    Bullying and humiliation are common on Staten Island. No one should be surprised there. It’s a terrible place – it’s like the show Jersey Shore, but with more hormones and less humanity. What happened to this girl sickens me. This is not a simple problem – it’s a systemic issue that starts at home with the parents who allow their children to grow up not knowing the difference between right and wrong and not knowing how to respect themselves or others.

    • JMS

      It’s not limited to staten island Mike. i have a 15 y.o. daughter in NJ that suffered from the same type of humiliation. the problem is indeed w/the parents of these kids as well as the school’s inability to monitor of site bullying that takes place on line and via text. how many kids have to end up like this one before a solutoion is found?

      • Queens rider

        Truth- if someone bullied my kid and the parents would not stop it, I would inflict the same treatment on the parents. If it’s okay for kids to torture another kid, why not for adults?

  • nickki

    this is so tetrrible, on how young studens could push somebody like this over the edge. This is what the world is coming to.

  • The Judge

    If you’re a bully, and readung this, here is what I can promise you’ll do on your death-bed. Squeal, holler, cry and die in terror with the faces of those who you bullied and hurt before your dying eyes. They will be waiting for you!

  • Vik

    Hope those little p.o.s’s rot in hell for causing what they did. Since this bullying was going on, what were the teachers doing at the time? Oh, I know. Those stupid, bimbo, born, bred in and hope to rot in Staten Island airhead – LOL – teachers were too busy making manicure appointments on Hylan Boulevard to be bothered. Toss those punks out of school ASAP!!!!!!!!

    • Michael H.

      The teachers are almost powerless in these situations. Blame the administrators.

      • Michael Schoen

        Why blame the teachers these parents should be held responsible,
        these parents need to be thrown in front of a bus in front of those kids….

  • It Stops Now

    I was bullied in highschool. Hit, called names, humiliated in front of girls. One day I, too, went over the edge. The edge I went over was to smack the heck out of one of thje bullies; I mean I beat him black, blue and bloody. I got suspended for a week. What I did not get was bullied anymore. I don’t know if that’s the answer but I do know that what this poor child did is not the answer. Bullies will always be with us. Sometimes they’re called superior officers, bosses, managers, foremen and the like. Too bad, I’m not smart enough to solve this awful problem.

    • M.A.D

      I agree, young bullies do become managers, bosses, etc..

  • its good to know

    Their needs to be zeeeerooo tolerance.
    The schools need to bring G-d back into school.
    Not necessarily in that order.

    • Tanya

      I agree with the above statements. These bullies need to be removed from school immediately and arrested that way they have a criminal record permanently. Their entire life needs to be affected. In fact, they should be put into a jail cell indefinitely. They took a life if not directly then indirectly. They don’t deserve to breathe fresh air again. This is a good example why abortions should be legal only animals produce animals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Michael H.

      Bring religion into school and you will see issues like this grow exponentially as everybody argues over who has a better invisible sky daddy.

      • its good to know

        its simply a matter of bringing G-dly morals into the educational system. It they can teach sex education, why not teach basic human decency. Workshops and role playing should be par for the course.
        Teaching children that there is a G-d that sees and hears, and teaching the seven Noahide laws would do wondersfor todays society.

        • Michael H.

          you don’t need god to know the difference between right and wrong. treating others as you would have them treat you. god has no place in the classroom.

          • its good to know

            Who decides what’s right and wrong. Suppose the perpetrators would say, “I dont mind being treated badly. Would that give them the right to commit evil.

            G-d absolutely needs to be brought into the classroom. He created right and wrong.

            What’s so frightening about bring G-d into your reality.

  • Tebow

    I blame rap music

  • Michael Schoen

    Their parents need to be held responsibe for their actiions. I beleive that these stupid staten island want a bees will get what is coming to them. a life of terror….

  • Susan

    …He said they even posted cruel remarks on Facebook while the girl was dying in the hospital.”

    To be capable of doing the above, in my opinion makes you not human.
    My heart is breaking thinking about her family.

    • 4dixie

      First, what a waste of a beautiful young lady. Looking at her eyes, you can tell she has a wonderful heart and a lot of love to give. My prayers to her family and friends.

      These bullies have to be stopped. It seems no one cares what the repercussions of their actions have after the fact. Not the bullies or the bullies parents. They evidently have no feelings or sense of remorse and they aren’t scared of getting into trouble. Someone needs to shake some sense into all of these people and physically do something.
      And for these idiots trying to get a rise out of the rest of you, just ignore them. They are trying to run Amanda’s page into another fight. Don’t let them.

    • kahlansdaddy

      At 11 years old one night, my daughter kahlan crying and running into her room said, I don’t want to live anymore, I followed her into her room to ask questions like “when did you start to feel this way? have you thought of ways to end your life? how often?, I was shocked to find out she felt that way daily all due to bulling at school or near the home. I immediately called to get her help and after 6 months intensive outpatient therapy. I still have my daughter. I couldn’t imagine being in this family’s shoes. This is needless and tragic, why didn’t someone take more action. They need to start rewarding kids that step up and go to school; officials and authorities before something this tragic happens again.. My heart breaks for this family….this is assisted suicide and the kids that took part in this should be shamed. The ones that aren’t are the ones that need to be locked up in a hospital. And the parents should be responsible for raising hurtful children . The home is where these kids learn the behavior as well as not having accountability from their parents.

  • Berndette

    Its very sad such an act of violence continued in this manner. I can only give my condolences to he family.

  • Diane

    The tormenters of this child should be punished to the FULL extent of the law. No more hiding under the minor law, that’s the problem here in this country. They know they will get away with anything since they are underage. Let’s change things so maybe the younger generation will think twice before doing something stupid.

    • Larry Schwarz

      I agree.They should face charges just like That Gay Rutgers student who killed himself by jumping off The George Washington Bridge after he was filmed and tormented by his roommate and an accomplice.Similar charges should apply here.First Expell these Students.Next let The District Attorney decide what charges to bring.They caused a death,it should be criminally negligent homocide.But that would have to be up to THe DA,and charges that a Judge would not toss out.They can come up with something.Until these bullies are held accountable for their actions this will continue.Making an example here would help deter it.I urge THe DA to consider involuntary manslaughter or criminally negligent Homocide.

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