SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — An 8-year-old student was found dead in a pond after running away from his classroom Thursday at an elementary school in South Carolina, authorities said.
Lionel Ramirez Cervantes was in a classroom with two other students and three school employees when he ran out into the hall, outside the building and then over or through a fence and into a field with high grass where he could no longer be seen, Greenville County Schools said in a statement.
Police were immediately called and officers, school officials and community members began searching. Divers found Lionel’s body about four hours later in a neighborhood pond about 1,000 feet (300 meters) from Bell’s Crossing Elementary in Simpsonville, authorities said.
“A lot of broken hearts in that school and community today,” Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said at a news conference.
Before the boy’s body was found, deputies released information that he might have autism or another developmental disorder and may not respond to regular verbal prompts.
Deputies and school officials are investigating exactly what happened and how the child got off school grounds but emphasized staff members reacted quickly and tried to catch him.
“This was our worst fear today, and we are grieving as a community. We are devastated to lose one of our children. We will bind together with the support of the district,” Bell’s Crossing Elementary School Principal Chris Ross said in a statement.
The school remained open Friday and grief counselors were brought in for students and teachers. The district also said it was providing whatever support Lionel’s family needs.
An autopsy on the boy was scheduled for Friday.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the body of an 8-year-old boy was discovered in a neighborhood pond after he ran away from school. The tragic discovery has left the community in shock and mourning for the young life lost too soon.
The boy, whose name has not been released, was reported missing by his school after he failed to return from recess. A search party was quickly organized, with volunteers and law enforcement officers combing the area in search of the missing child. Tragically, it was a neighbor who made the grim discovery in a nearby pond.
The circumstances surrounding the boy’s disappearance and death are still under investigation, but it is believed that he may have wandered off from school and accidentally drowned in the pond. The loss of such a young life is a devastating blow to the community, and many are left wondering how such a tragedy could have occurred.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping a close eye on young children, especially in public places. It also highlights the need for schools and parents to have proper safety measures in place to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.
The community has come together to support the family of the young boy during this difficult time, offering condolences and assistance in any way they can. Grief counselors have been made available to help those affected by the tragedy cope with their emotions and find healing in the midst of such a devastating loss.
As the investigation into the boy’s death continues, the community is left grappling with the senseless loss of a young life and searching for answers as to how such a tragedy could have occurred. In the wake of this heartbreaking discovery, it is important for everyone to come together to support one another and work towards preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.
