By David Kilby, Staff Writer
CRANBURY — Tragedy struck in the town of Cranbury on Tuesday night.
Spring break had just ended and the seniors of Princeton High School were returning to their classes.
But Tuesday would be the last day they would see their classmate Emma Brunskill, a member of the Princeton lacrosse team and the Women’s Choir.
Tuesday night, Emma was found in her bedroom, the victim of an apparent suicide.
When police officers arrived at her house just before 9 p.m., they found Emma suffering from a single gunshot wound, police said.
Officers immediately began to give her first aid and the Cranbury First Aid Squad and paramedics took her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where further attempts at lifesaving measures were unsuccessful, police said.
”Cranbury Township is a very close and tight-knit community,” said Chief Ricky Varga of the Cranbury Township police. “The loss of one of our youngest and brightest has deeply saddened us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.”
Police said there were no “suspicious circumstances” surrounding the death.
”We’re in deep mourning of a tragic loss of a young person’s beautiful life,” said Superintendent of Princeton School District Judy Wilson.
The district is the midst of “a deep effort of care and support, helping children and adults grapple with deep grief,” she said.
Outside counseling support from Corner House is being offered to students as are services from Trinity Counseling, a community counseling agency founded by Trinity Church.
Parents were notified of the sudden, tragic loss. The district also provided parents with information about how to speak with their children in times of trauma and sadness. The information was made available via e-mail and online.
”Above all else, our hearts and prayers are with the family,” said Ms. Wilson.
In a Cranbury Press article written just before Emma entered PHS in 2007, Emma talked about going to the high school.
”I’m kind of nervous that I might not do so well academically, but I’m going to try my hardest,” she said. “But I’m excited to meet new people and have new experiences.”
She also said, “I’m already involved in cheerleading, which wasn’t offered at Cranbury, and I’m involved in the chorus and the orchestra. Maybe when I get there I’ll want to do something different or join something else.
”I want to do well in school because I want to get into a good college. I also want to make a lot of friends that I’ll have for a long time. I want to blossom and become more independent and become more of an adult. I just want to be myself and enjoy everything that’s going to happen.”
The region’s 24-hour crisis prevention hotline provided by Contact of Mercer County is 609-896-2120 or 609-585-2244. The hotline is staffed by trained volunteers who provide compassionate listening and safety services to those in need.
