A freshman in Ryan's class died last night. He shot himself. He was a good kid, the Star of the varsity basketball team, and the only freshman on it. He didn't do drugs. He didn't hang out with the bad kids. He wasn't a wannabe ganster. He got decent grades. He was in a couple of Ryan's classes but, they weren't close friends.

A child died last night, and the community is in mourning.

And all I can think of is, why didn't anyone know this child needed help. He was only 14 years old.

I can't imagine the grief of his family but, I know my heart is breaking, because a child died last night.

West High School basketball up-and-comer Tony Monroe was found dead from a self-inflicted wound in a car Monday near the interstate.

School district officials said counselors have been dispatched to the school to help students deal with the tragedy.

Monroe, 15, was a starting guard for the Regents. At 6-foot-1, he was considered a promising prospect and was already a leading scorer.

Police discovered the suicide when state troopers were called to Wisconsin 30, near the westbound Interstate 90 ramp, at about 1:30 p.m. for what was believed to have been a disabled vehicle.

Coroner's officials today would not disclose how Monroe committed suicide, other than to say he died from self-inflicted wounds.

Madison police and the Dane County coroner investigated the death as exiting traffic was diverted to the U.S. 51 exit.

The ramp was cleared for traffic at 4:15 p.m.

Madison school district spokesman Joe Quick said 10 social workers and psychologists were dispatched to the school, and others were tending to students at Wright Middle School, which Monroe attended last year.

"These crisis teams are already in place, and when things like this happen they go into action," he said.

Isn't a crisis team too little, too late? Because a child died last night. Where was the crisis team when he needed them. ?

A child died last night.