Friends say student who took own life was friendly, outgoing
Mira Costa junior Darius Smith attended an annual drama club kickoff party last September at a classmate’s home. Smith, who passed away last week, was described by friends as happy, friendly and outgoing. Photo by Madison Swart
by Andrea Ruse and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Students and teachers at Mira Costa High School are mourning the death of junior Darius Smith who, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner, took his life last week.
Friends described Smith as happy and outgoing — someone whom everybody seemed to know and like.
“Darius was a very sociable person,” Mira Costa senior Jessica Clemens said. “He never put anybody down and he was always friendly even if he didn’t know you well. He is surely going to be missed.”
Police responded March 10 at 10 a.m. to the Redondo Beach home where Smith lived with his parents. According to the coroner’s report, a relative found Smith deceased in his bedroom. The cause of death was suicide by asphyxiation, said LACSC Lt. Fred Corral.
Redondo Beach Police Sgt. Phil Keenan said that investigators did not find a note.
“He didn’t seem to have any real issues,” Keenan said. “He seemed to be a well-adjusted kid. It was pretty surprising – usually, you see telltale signs. From talking to his family and friends and neighbors, there did not appear to be any of those telltale signs.”
Costa Principal Julie Ruisinger announced the tragedy to the faculty in an early morning meeting last Thursday. Teachers told students during second period and Ruisinger sent out an email to parents that afternoon. School officials arranged to make counselors available to grieving students on campus all day.
“We knew…you really have to take the time to prepare those students and let them know what’s happened,” Ruisinger said. “We wanted to let all the students know at the same time so if anybody was upset they could come down here. It’s not even just to talk to a counselor either, it’s just to be with other people who feel the same way as you do.”
Mira Costa junior Darius Smith passed away last Wednesday. Photo taken from a Facebook page set up in Smith’s honor
Smith, 17, transferred during the last school year from Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance to Mira Costa, where he was involved in the drama program and Improv Club.
“I just remember the last scene we did together,” said freshman Maiya Dworkin, who shared drama class with Smith. “It was about an Irish Valentines’ Day, and I was his love interest. His name was Seamus and mine was Charlotte, so every time I’d see him after that, he’d say to call him Seamus and he’d call me Charlotte. He was just such a nice, happy, funny person.”
On a “R.I.P. Darius Smith” Facebook page, Smith is described as happy, outgoing, friendly and “always smiling.” Some comments noted how he loved animals, his favorite Pokemon shirt, playing pool and chewing gum.
Friends were stunned that a young man who seemed so upbeat met such a tragic end.
“You were the most outgoing kid at our school,” said student Sean Judge on Smith’s Facebook page. “I’ve never seen someone look as happy as you did every day.”
Junior Sydney Haley, who helped organize a bonfire to be held next week in Smith’s honor, befriended him shortly after he transferred to Costa.
“He was constantly happy,” Haley said. “He didn’t let anyone in enough to show he was having problems.”
It is not uncommon for family and friends to be unaware that loved ones are struggling emotionally, said Dr. Moe Gelbart, director of Gelbart and Associates, a Torrance-based mental health practice.
Suicide accounts for 12 percent of all deaths between the ages of 15 and 24 annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Teens and adults in that age range — in addition to people over age 65 — show the highest suicide rates. In 2007, the CDC reported that 14.5 percent of U.S. high school students had seriously considered and 6.9 percent had actually attempted suicide during the previous year.
“There are not necessarily higher rates of suicide in the South Bay,” Gelbart said. “But kids here are dealing with different kinds of issues, like intense school pressure and performance pressure.”
Certain signs — such as a sudden drop in grades, drug and alcohol use, and a teen becoming socially withdrawn and isolated– are indicative of deeper issues that need to be addressed, according to Gelbart.
He said that friends and family of a loved one who expresses intent to harm him/herself or to not be alive should immediately seek help by calling 911 or take the person to an emergency room or local psychiatric hospital, such as Del Amo Hospital.
“The key thing is for adults to take very seriously any thought, words, or actions from their child about suicide,” Gelbart said. “It has to be dealt with seriously and instantly evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in the appropriate age group.”
A comment left on Smith’s honorary Facebook page suggests that he may have indicated he was struggling emotionally.
“Darius, all I have left to say is that I thought things had turned for the better with that conversation I had with you,” a friend wrote. “I thought it meant you would meet a much different end. I just wish that it hadn’t been the last conversation we would have together.”
Many Mira Costa students say the death has brought them together in remembering Smith.
“We’ve all grown a lot closer through this experience, and I found myself introducing myself to total strangers, just so we could talk and be there for one another,” senior Russell Sperberg said. “His death was a terrible tragedy, but it really put things into perspective.”
Costa students feel the void that Smith’s loss has left.
“He was so full of light, and that light touched those around him,” sophomore Elizabeth Griswold said. “He affected so many lives in such a positive way, and I had no idea how much of a difference one person could make until Darius was gone.”
A bonfire will be held in Smith’s honor March 29 from 6 p.m. to midnight at Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo. Attendees are encouraged to bring snacks and entertainment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide, please contact one of the following people/organizations recommended by Manhattan Beach Unified School District: Dr. Gelbart and Associates (310) 257-5757; Melissa Kay at (310) 745-7605; Jackie Mills at (310) 318-1408; The Gathering Place (310) 374-6323. ER