Miles Blumhardt

milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com

BERTHOUD -- Ben Vander Wall sat at a picnic table in Fickel Park on Friday and wondered about how his fellow band member at Berthoud High School — one who could carry a perfect pitch, be it playing the flute at band practice or whistling in the car — could have pulled the trigger.

Sure, he said his friend Joshua Francis got into trouble for dumb things like putting gum in the electrical outlets at school, but why did the talented musician with circles of friends end his life Thursday morning at the school?

"He seemed like normal the last time I saw him,'' said a glazed-over Vander Wall, a 15-year-old sophomore. "I have to think it was a spur of the moment thing.''

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office confirmed late Friday afternoon what many in this quiet town of nearly 6,000 people on the southern edge of Larimer County already knew.

The unanswered question is why?

"Sure, he was somewhat secluded, but he was funny and laughed a lot and had friends,'' said Vander Wall. "I never saw him bullied. Most of us are just so confused.''

Francis' death was the third in the past eight months for Berthoud High School, which has an enrollment of 720. Two have been suicides and the third a recent graduate killed by another teenager.

Students and residents in the self-proclaimed "Garden Spot of Colorado'' are confused, angry, and filled with anxiety, said Grace Place church youth minster J.J. Johnson.

"People are wondering, why always here?'' Johnson said.

In April, junior AJ Black died by suicide at his home in Johnstown. In June, 18-year-old Berthoud High School graduate Ashley Doolittle was murdered. Doolittle's ex-boyfriend, Tanner Flores, told police he shot her twice at Carter Lake because he was angry with her and then drove to the Western Slope town of Collbran to clean up the body. Flores also attended Berthoud High School.

Flores' next court appearance is Nov. 17 for a review hearing. He remains in custody without bond at the Larimer County Jail.

Shay Black, AJ's mother, said Friday afternoon she was going to visit Robin Francis later that night.

"Everybody grieves differently,'' said Shay Black, whose son would have turned 18 on Nov. 10. "That first week, it's pretty much like being a robot. There is so much to do and think about, but you're just going through the motions mostly being in a fog and shocked. I jut want to help her through it as best I can.''

Shay Black said she spent most of the past two days helping students through being "scared and feeling like something bad is just waiting to happen to them.''

She said unlike when her son, a junior and captain of the Spartan wrestling team, died by suicide in their Johnstown home in April, students will struggle as they return to school where Joshua died.

"They will be very apprehensive to go back to school,'' said Shay, who since AJ's death is an advocate for suicide post-vention, which is helping people cope after a suicide."We need to let them know that it's OK to grieve, but that it's not OK to bottle it up because there are many hands to lift these kids up.''

Thompson School District's psychological response team was available to Berthoud High School students, families and staff Friday at the Berthoud Area Community Center. Sunday, the district is opening the school's doors from 2-3 p.m., hoping to give students an opportunity "to become reconnected with the building community."

Officials from the sheriff's office will be there to provide support.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Joshua," Thompson School District Superintendent Stan Scheer said in a release. "This has been an especially difficult time for Joshua's family, friends and the entire Berthoud community. We are extremely grateful to the community for their continued support in this time of need. So many students, parents and community members have come together to grieve and to provide support to others. We appreciate all that they have done."

There have been 57 suicide deaths in Larimer County in 2016 as of Oct. 12. There were 80 confirmed suicides in Larimer County last year, including four people under the age of 18.

Get help

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, call the Suicide Hotline, 800-273-TALK (8255). If you need immediate assistance in Larimer County, call SummitStone Health Partners, 970-494-4200. A 24/7 mental health crisis center is also open in Fort Collins at 1217 Riverside Ave.

If you have lost someone to suicide, learn more about support groups and resources available to you by visiting allianceforsuicideprevention.org.