A father from South Bay shared that his teenage son ended his life due to bullying from classmates at their high school, stemming from his experience of homelessness.
Jose Bautista is eager to share the story of his 14-year-old son, Jose Zamora, who recently began attending Santa Clara High just three months ago, to help raise awareness.
Bautista mentioned, “He was trying to make me happy. He was trying to be a better child.”
Jose passed away by suicide last Tuesday. The heartbroken single father shared that his teenage son faced bullying at the high school where he was just starting as a freshman.
“I miss hearing him, seeing him. I miss picking him up,” Bautista said.
Father mentioned he would pick Jose from football practice at Santa Clara High, where he played on the junior varsity team.
Bautista shared that following the discovery of his son’s death, he learned from fellow students that his son’s teammates had tormented him for being homeless and lacking a mother.
“They were spitting on him, hitting him on the back of the helmet,” Bautista said.
Bautista revealed that the other football players learned his son was residing at the Bill Wilson Center, a nonprofit shelter supporting unhoused and troubled youth.
Bautista mentioned that his son was receiving treatment for mental health concerns at that location. The father and son lost their home after being evicted from their apartment earlier this year.
“We were bonding more. He was waiting for a place to live instead of the shelter,” Bautista said.
He expressed his wish to secure a new home for himself and his son before the holiday season.
Bautista raised concerns about whether the school district is taking action against those accused of bullying his son.
School Superintendent Gary Waddell issued a statement that included, “administrators have already taken initial actions in response. We in no way condone bullying, harassment, or retribution of any kind and take any such allegations seriously. We strive to provide as many facts as possible to the community while preserving our duty to protect the privacy and confidentiality of both students and families.”
Bautista expressed his desire for others to be informed about the events that took place.
“It’s kind of hard,” he said. “I just don’t want this to happen to other people like it happened to me.”