A teenager has committed suicide after he faced being put on a sex offenders list for streaking at a high school football game.
Christian Adamek, 15, from Hunstville, Alabama, hanged himself on October 2 and died two days later, AL.com reports.
Just one week earlier, he had been arrested by cops after running naked across the field during a high school football game on September 27. Under Alabama law, Christian faced being placed on the sex offenders register if found guilty of indecent exposure.
Video of his streaking was put on YouTube, attracting enthusiastic comments calling him a “legend” from his fellow students at Sparkman High, but has since been removed.
School officials, who were furious over the incident, threatened the teen with expulsion and legal action for indecent exposure – which under Alabama law would put him on the sex offender’s register.
“There’s the legal complications,” principal Michael Campbell told WHNT the day before Christian hanged himself. The streaking was not just a harmless prank, Mr Campbell said.
“Public lewdness and court consequences outside of school with the legal system, as well as the school consequences that the school system has set up,” he said.
School officials also wanted Christian to attend a court hearing to determine if charges would be filed, WHNT reported.
Writing on Facebook, Adamek’s sister implied that he had been expelled, and the school confirmed he had not attended classes after the incident.
His death prompted an outpouring of shock and grief from Adamek’s friends and fellow students on Twitter. “RIP Christian Adamek, you’re a legend”, wrote Savannah Ledbetter
“Praying for the Adamek family! Even tho I didn’t know Christian I can tell that everyone loved him! You will be missed!” wrote Twitter user Amandajo.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the family during this time of bereavement,” school officials said in a statement.
At Wednesday’s memorial service, mother Angela Adamek thanked Christian’s friends and urged them to stay positive and ask for help when they need it.
“Remember to smile, don’t be afraid to do something goofy and remember the consequences of those actions, ask for help when you need it, ask for help if you think your friends need it if you don’t know what to do, be quirky, be happy, be smart,” she said.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au