Teen commits suicide at prom party

Marisa O’Neil

A Huntington Beach High School student committed suicide this weekend

at a hotel party after his school prom, officials said.

Senior Christopher Davidson, 18, was with his 16-year-old

girlfriend and nearly 100 other students at a party early Saturday at

the Residence Inn in the 800 block of West Baker Street, Costa Mesa

police Lt. John FitzPatrick said. After a fight with his girlfriend

and friends, Davidson locked himself in the bathroom, FitzPatrick

said.

“Somebody poured beer on him, and some sort of altercation took

place in the courtyard; then he went into his hotel room,”

FitzPatrick said.

His girlfriend told police she thought he had gone in to clean up,

but grew concerned when he didn’t return.

Friends kicked open the door at about 5 a.m. and found that

Davidson had hanged himself.

“He had some issues and had been depressed,” FitzPatrick said. “He

was on antidepressants.”

FitzPatrick said he didn’t know if Davidson had been drinking or

what kind of antidepressants he had been prescribed. Some types of

antidepressants have been linked to an increased risk of suicide.

Huntington Beach High School Principal Frank Berry refused to

comment “out of respect for [Davidson’s] parents.” A statement read

to students on Monday called the suicide “alcohol related.”

School and district psychologists were available to students, as

was the opportunity to write sympathy cards to Davidson’s family.

Parents had rented 11 rooms for students at the hotel after the

prom, FitzPatrick said. Some students were reportedly drinking and

possibly doing drugs, he said.

“We need to be vigilant of the activities we are condoning,” he

said. “Teenagers tend to push the edge of the envelope anyway.”

The suicide came the same weekend as proms for Estancia, Costa

Mesa and Middle College high schools, which all went without

incident, Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Rob Barbot said.

Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high schools’ proms will take place

on June 5.

District officials and trustees have been urging parents and

students to enjoy prom and graduation safely.

“All families want to celebrate student achievement this time of

year and start the next chapter of their lives,” district spokeswoman

Jane Garland said. “But it should be done with caution and the

supervision of parents.”

A memorial service for Davidson was held on Monday. The family

requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to

Huntington Beach High School for the Christopher Davidson Scholarship

Fund.

The school’s address is 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648.