Death of Monett teen on school grounds officially ruled a suicide

The death of a Monett teen whose body was found north of Monett High School has been ruled a suicide.
Sergio Adrian Salas Rueda, a 14-year-old student who was an eighth grader at Monett Middle School, was found in the field in the early evening hours of Monday, Sept. 16 with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was reported that Monett Police suspected no foul play in his death.
A visitation was held for Sergio at the Church of the Nazarene in Monett, and his funeral service was held the next day. He was buried in Monett’s I.O.O.F Cemetery.
 According to his obituary, Sergio was in band at his school and was also an active member of his church. He enjoyed playing video games, swimming, and going to amusement parks; he was also an aspiring musician who enjoyed listening to hip-hop music. His obituary stated he also enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
Russ Moreland, superintendent of the Monett School District, said the district is working to support those impacted by Sergio’s death.
“We are very saddened by the passing of Sergio and offer our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends,” he said in a statement. “We are working to provide support for family, friends and staff during this difficult time. We appreciate the support from our community and surrounding communities as we deal with this loss and want to continue to help our students heal and grieve.”