8-Year-Old Beaumont Student Dies, Community Comes Together

The third grade students at Tournament Hills Elementary School ended the school year much differently than the average student, getting news of a classmate’s death just days before summer break. 

Jarrod Lee Kuhn, Jr. died at the age of eight on May 18, just two months shy of his ninth birthday.  His principal tells Banning-Beaumont Patch he went home sick from school two days earlier on a Wednesday, and never returned.

Domenica Bernauer says she found out about Kuhn’s death the Friday night it happened, and immediately reached out to teachers and staff to prepare to notify students.  After a weekend meeting, Bernauer says a “crisis team” led by herself visited each classroom at the school to break the news that Monday.

“It’s hard, you’re losing one of your kids," she said of finding out the news herself.  "But you know you’ve got to be strong for the students."

That news was very difficult for the students to take, and many of them took advantage of special counseling services offered by district counselors and psychologists, according to the principal.

“I showed them a picture of [Jarrod],” Bernauer said.  “We were very honest with them, that he had passed away, and we weren’t sure what caused it.”

The cause of Kuhn’s death is still being investigated by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office, according to the sheriff’s department and the Beaumont Police Department.

Police say they were dispatched to the boy’s home on High Ridge Drive, near San Timoteo Canyon Road and the I-10, on the afternoon of May 18.

“[Cal Fire] advised they had received a report of an unresponsive child and upon arrival discovered the child had no signs of life and pronounced the child dead at approximately 2:33 p.m.,” police spokeswoman Darci Mulvihill said.

Community Support

Upon Kuhn’s passing, several community members stepped up to help out his family with the unexpected funeral costs.

Bernauer says that parents from students of all grades have helped out, stopping by to donate checks and cash continuously since word got out about the situation.  She says that the money is still coming in as of Tuesday—and if anyone would still like to donate, they can continue stopping by until the school closes for the summer on June 15.

Also helping out were the owners of El Mariachi restaurant on Beaumont Ave. 

Emily Maldonado tells Banning-Beaumont Patch that she and her husband Juan were able to donate more than $1,000 from a Memorial Day fundraiser they hosted at their eatery.  The donated 20% of sales that day, along with money put in the tip jar.

“We always try to help each other out,” Emily Maldonado said.  “If we all can help each other, we’d all be in a better place.”

Maldonado’s son and nephew both attended school with Kuhn, and were devastated by the news of his passing, she said.  It was especially difficult for her nephew who was friends with the boy, and had tried to play with him at recess on his last day at school.

“Jarrod said he didn’t feel well,” she said, relaying the information she was given from her nephew, who added the boy had to sit down under a tree rather than go out and play.

About Jarrod

An online obituary states that Jarrod would have turned nine on July 15, and moved to Beaumont with is parents and sister in 2010.

“Jarrod loved his new home in Beaumont and made many friends around the neighborhood and at school, where he excelled,” the Weaver Mortuary obituary says.

“Jarrod liked to swim, dance to bands like LMFAO, play Call of Duty video games, ride his bike, play basketball, tetherball, foursquare and to build Ninjago legos. Jarrod shared a passion for Disneyland, bowling, Star Wars and Angels Baseball with his mom, dad and sister. Jarrod enjoyed caring for his dogs, Kenobe, Chewy and Luke and his cat Coco. Jarrod was a kind-hearted, creative, funny and loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. He will be missed by many especially his parents, Jarrod and Jennifer and his sister, Jillian.”

Also according to the obituary, money may also be donated to help cover funeral costs by calling Jacqueline Noda at 714-501-7232.