Malden Needs Grief Counseling On First Day Of School

MALDEN, MA — A tragic truth Tuesday night became an even more heartbreaking reality Wednesday morning. Malden High School, on the first day of school, was offering grief counselors.

A 16-year-old Malden boy, identified Wednesday as Tenzin Kunkhyen, a student in the high school, was killed in a shooting Tuesday evening in Somerville. Instead of sending a 'Welcome To School' email to parents, officials were offering "deepest condolences."

"On behalf of the City of Malden and the Malden Public Schools, we are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of one of our students," Mayor Gary Christenson and Superintendent John Oteri said in a joint statement released late Wednesday morning.

"What makes this particularly painful was that he was just a teenager. Malden High School will have grief counselors available today and for as long as needed to provide assistance to help students and staff cope with this tragedy. We offer our support and deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time."

The shooting occurred around 5 p.m. on Farragut Ave. So far no arrests have been made, but officials said it is believed the shooter and Kunkhyen knew each other.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Somerville Police Department.

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Photo by Mike Carraggi, Patch staff