Father Gives Suicidal Son A Gun, Says 'Just Do It': Police

ODENTON, MD — An Anne Arundel County 14-year-old did the right thing by telling his parents he was having suicidal thoughts. But his dad's reaction has landed the man in jail. When the teen sought help from his parents, his father, Anthony Lewis of Odenton, reportedly shoved a shotgun in his son's hands, forced his finger on the trigger and told the boy to "Do it, just do it," authorities say.

Lewis faces charges of attempted first-degree assault and child abuse, among other charges.

This isn't the first time Lewis has been in trouble with the law. Anne Arundel County police officers said they have responded to numerous calls concerning domestic violence and abuse at the Lewis home. According to WMAR, charging documents indicate that the 14-year-old had been abused by his father a number of times. From January through the end of June, the teen told police, his father had hit him at least three times with a belt or extension cord for 20 times each assault, leaving bruises and welts.

"I saw weird colors in my eyes, and it started turning black," the teen said, according to court documents.

When WMAR shared the story on its Facebook page, commenters shared their outrage.

"If someone is speaking about suicidal thoughts, they are seeking help, not a gun shoved in their face," posted Courtney Johnson.

"Does not deserve the name of father. Go get some counseling from someone who cares," posted Ester Unger.

Lewis now faces first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, child abuse in the second degree, assisted suicide by providing means, firearm use and failure to send a child to school. He was denied bail.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health offers tips for parents needing to speak with their teens about suicide. The agency says that talking about suicide does not plant the idea in someone’s head. Parents should think about what to say ahead of time and approach the subject in general and simple terms. Here are a few suggestions:

• Be honest. If this is a hard subject to discuss, do not be afraid to admit it. Acknowledging your own discomfort gives your child permission to acknowledge theirs. Let them know it is OK to feel sad sometimes and that you occasionally feel sad, too.
• Self-harm is never the remedy. Tell children that you love them, how important they are to you and that together you can work through any problem. They need to understand that they will not always feel the way they feel now — things will get better, and they will be loved and taken care of no matter what.
• Discuss feelings of sadness. Your child could be feeling down due to bullying, loss of a family member, divorce, seasonal depression or other reasons. Start a conversation and listen. Don’t be afraid to ask if they’ve ever felt like hurting themselves.

Help for Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

Also check out resources available around Maryland to help those who are in crisis.