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Redwood City Teen's Suicide Prompts Hazmat Building Evacuation

REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) - Residents of a Redwood City apartment building were evacuated Sunday night because of a chemical release related to an apparent suicide, police said.

Officers responded to an apartment building in the 1500 block of Regent Street at about 7 p.m. after receiving a report that a teenage boy had barricaded himself in a bathroom and was possibly committing suicide, police said.

Police broke down the bathroom door and found the boy deceased.  Investigators discovered that the teen had prepared a toxic mix of chemicals, which he deliberately inhaled, police said.

A hazardous materials team responded and evacuated the building until the chemicals no longer posed a threat, and residents were then allowed to return home.

Two police officers, a sergeant, and several residents who were exposed to the chemicals were decontaminated and taken to a hospital for observation. They have all since been released.

(Copyright 2011 by CBSSan Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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