Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Seven-Year-Old Dies Suddenly in School Bathroom
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Oct 27, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Oct 27, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Second grader Justin Leith was found by a student in a restroom at PS 205 in the Bronx just minutes after he was excused from class complaining of a stomach ache. A second grader from a different class found Leith unresponsive on the floor of the bathroom and told his teacher, who alerted emergency services. The seven-year-old could not be revived, however, and was declared dead at St. Barnabas Hospital. There didn't appear to be any signs of trauma to the boy.
The young student reportedly had no prior health conditions and according to his mother passed a physical during the summer with no problems. Parents of other students were initially concerned that Leith was another casualty of the infectious superbug MRSA that killed a 7th grader earlier this week, but health officials ruled that possibility out due to the quick onset of death.
Police also reported to the scene, but no foul play is suspected and an autopsy by the city medical examiner is scheduled for today. Justin Leith grew up in New York City until he was five, when he moved to Atlanta to live with his father. He returned to NYC this summer where he lived with his mother, who described him as a happy and healthy child whose favorite subject was art.
Tagged
art
atlanta
Barnabas Hospital
bronx
city
death
health
hospital
Medical Examiner
new york
new york city
News: NYC
nyc
police
the city
this week
Dave Hogarty
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .