11-Year-Old Rapper Hangs Self

Brother Says Shauntay Phillips Died After Kids' Yelling, Cussing

Posted: 7:23 am PDT July 22, 2010
Updated: 7:36 am PDT July 22, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The family of an 11-year-old Christian rapper said he hung himself after being sworn at and laughed at by a group of kids, Nashville TV station WSMV reported.

Shauntay Phillips had a way with words and loved to write uplifting lyrics, friends and family said.

"He always talked about the Lord, and all of his raps were about the Lord," said Timeka McCullough-Harris, Shauntay's aunt.

The boy was described as polite, sensitive and a great student, and to his family in Clarksville, Shauntay's smile seemed to signal happiness. Never did they think he'd even consider taking his own life, they said.

"This is something that was a shock to us all," McCullough-Harris said.

Last Thursday, Shauntay had been swimming in the neighborhood with friends. His brother said one of the kids started yelling and cussing at Shauntay and that Shauntay was embarrassed because he thought all of the kids were laughing at him.

"He was just so upset, and then he walked up the hill," said Shauntay's brother, Antonio McCullough.

Minutes later, Shauntay's father found the boy dead in his bedroom. He hanged himself, family members said.

"I thought it was my fault because I wasn't at the house when he did it, and thought I was the reason why he did it," Antonio said.

Shauntay's family, friends and teachers said goodbye during his funeral Wednesday. His aunt read the final rhyme he'd written.

"God is my favorite lord. God is my favorite thing. I'm about to go to church to tell the pastor I'm about to sing," McCullough-Harris read.

His family said they wanted to share their story in hopes of sending a message to parents to ask more questions and get more involved in their children's lives, even if nothing seems wrong.

"Try to teach your children that other children have feelings and that it affects people different," McCullough-Harris said.

From: http://www.ktvu.com/news/24351983/detail.html