A 14-year-old high school freshman has killed himself in a ditch after being bullied by older students, according to friends. Raymond Howell Jr.'s body was found near a culvert alongside a busy road in McKinney, Texas - around four miles from where he attended school at McKinney Boyd High - on Thursday. Police, who were on the scene at 7am, have not confirmed how he passed away but friends on social media reported that he had died from a bullet wound. After his body was found, friends said that he never would have taken his life, but McKinney police confirmed on Thursday that it was suicide. Loss: The body of Raymond Howell, Jr. was found early on Thursday morning a few miles from his school . Tribute: Friends paid tribute to the teenager on social media. Some friends reported that he had been bullied . Friends recalled him as a happy and friendly teenager, but said he had recently asked for a transfer after being bullied by older students, CBS reported. 'There were people who didn't like him, but it's life - there's always someone that won't like you,' family friend Aleena Rogers, 16, told the Dallas Morning News. 'But those were very few and far between for him. He was loved by most everyone.' She said he was always helping other people and called him 'an amazing guy with a huge heart'. Another friend wrote on Instagram that Howell had been found shot to death and called him 'a great, happy, awesome, and nice guy'. 'I am gonna miss you bro,' he wrote. School district officials have not yet responded to requests from DailyMail.com over whether they were aware of the bullying claims. Scene: His body was found near this culvert in McKinney, Texas. Friends say he died of a bullet wound . School: He was a freshman at McKinney Boyd High, pictured, but had reportedly asked for a transfer . Loved: Another friend posted pictures to Twitter showing him with Raymond when they were younger . But they released a statement on Thursday to say they would be providing counselors to help students and staff affected by the tragedy. 'It is with great sadness that we were informed this morning of the death of a McKinney Boyd High School student,' district spokesman Cody Cunningham said in the statement. 'We recognize there are a lot of unanswered questions at this time, and we ask for your patience as the McKinney Police Department investigates the situation.' • For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here . • For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here . See below for video .
Raymond Howell Jr.'s body was found in a culvert in McKinney, Texas early on Thursday, around four miles from his school .
Police have not released his cause of death but friends on social media said he had died from a bullet wound .
Friends said he had been bullied by older kids and had asked for a transfer .