May 24, 2012
ENGLEWOOD, Tenn. (WVLT) -- New details are emerging about the McMinn Central High School junior who apparently took her own life in a church parking lot earlier this week. Sheriff Joe Guy described Morgan Johnson as an above average student well-liked by those around her.
Johnson missed school on Tuesday. Around noon, she was found lying beside her vehicle, killed by what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While many on Facebook are wondering what role bullying may have played in her death, Sheriff Guy said his department's investigation has not uncovered any specific connection.
“We’ve had a lot of people raise the issue of bullying,” said Sheriff Guy. “And while we agree that bullying should not be tolerated, no one we’ve talked with is able to identify a specific incident or a specific person or group of people who might have harassed Morgan."
Guy indicated investigators learned of some teasing, but nothing so far that would have warranted reporting it to teachers or a school resource officer. Much of what they uncovered is unsubstantiated and hearsay, Guy said.
