Hundreds attend tearful vigil held in memory of Tyler Nichols

There were tears, prayers, candles and questions, mainly why.  A candlelight vigil was held in memory of Tyler Nichols after the Davidson Middle School student committed suicide on Thursday.

"I just want to thank everyone.  Thank you all for supporting us and being there for us during this tragedy," said Amber Sorich, the 13-year-old's older sister.

Nichols' classmates met at nearby Anderson High School for the vigil.

Nichols stepped into the boy's bathroom alone just after 8:00 a.m. Thursday.  After hearing a loud noise, another boy discovered him.

Southgate's director of public safety, Tom Coombs, released the following statement: "The gun was a family member's gun, and the letter was an open suicide note and is not to an individual, as originally thought, with the student talking more about the drama of being a 13-year-old and not being able to deal with the issues and feeling suicide is the only way to deal with it.  The letter does not mention anything about bullying at all."

Hugging each other at the vigil, Nichols' fellow students at Davidson have been frozen in shock all day.

"I just can't believe that he's gone," said classmate Haley Smithers.  "It's unreal."

"At first everyone thought it was drill, but it was devastating to find out it wasn't."

There was a prayer, a poem, and with lighted candles raised high, many in the crowd of several hundred, while thinking of Nichols, release balloons and tears.

There will be counselors available at Davidson Middle School of Friday for students, parents and faculty members even thought there will be no school.  They will also be available all day on Monday when classes resume.