Penn Hills School District Mourns Death of 10th-Grade Student Victor Adeleke

Penn Hills, PA — The Penn Hills community is grieving after the tragic death of Victor Adeleke, a 10th-grade student at Penn Hills High School, who passed away on Thanksgiving Day.

According to a message shared on the Penn Hills School District’s official Facebook page, Adeleke died Thursday from self-inflicted injuries. District leaders expressed profound sorrow over the loss, noting the impact it has had on students, staff, and families throughout the community.

“Our entire school community is heartbroken by this tragic loss,” the district wrote in a statement posted Friday evening. “We extend our deepest condolences to Victor’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and cared for him. Losing a young member of our community is an unimaginable pain, and we grieve together as a district.”

The district also confirmed that additional counseling and support services will be available in the coming days to assist students and staff coping with the news. Classes are scheduled to resume Tuesday following the Thanksgiving break.

Superintendent John Mozzocio, reached late Friday, referred to the district’s official statement and said no further personal details about the student would be released out of respect for the family’s privacy.

School board president Erin Vecchio also expressed her condolences, calling the loss “a great tragedy” for everyone in the district. “It’s a shame that this happened,” she said. “It’s a great loss to our school district community.”

The district reiterated its call for compassion and support as the Penn Hills community processes the loss. “Please keep Victor’s family in your thoughts as they navigate this incredibly difficult time,” the statement concluded.

If you or someone you know is struggling:
Help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.