Update: Dana Hills Students Remember Kelsey Gail Burris

Students on the campus of shared their memories today of fellow student Kelsey Gail Burris, 16, who died Saturday in Dana Point of a possible drug overdose, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

On a busy, warm spring-like day students were out and about on campus heading to class or leaving for lunch.

Student Yosenia Gutierres said, "She was in my PE class. I always used to compliment her on her hair—she had really pretty hair—and she would say 'oh, thank you!' She was just always really sweet to everybody."

TJ Carter, another classmate said, "We had math together. She was just always really down to earth."

Cameron Foster, who went to homecoming with Burris last year, called the sophomore "amazing ... she was super chill."

Added Michael Cashman, "She was really sweet to her friends. She got along with everybody. No one disliked her. And of course, she was gorgeous. My best friend is her ex-boyfriend. He broke up with her to join the military. I don't know. She just kind of kept to herself in a sense—pretty much."

Sammy Shamlou added, Burris was "just a really nice girl."

Remembering Burris fondly was Jonathan Nelson, who said,  "I remember in biology, we would go on these nature walks and we would all be talking but she would just be looking around at all the nature with a smile."

Public Information Officer Jim Amormino said sheriff's officials were dispatched to the 34000 block of Silver Lantern, the home of Burris' 19-year-old boyfriend, at 3:17 a.m. Saturday morning.

When paramedics arrived, Burris was unresponsive. She was taken to San Clemente Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival, Amormino said.

Amormino said the unnamed boyfriend told police that the two fell asleep on Friday evening, March 25, and when he woke up the next morning, Burris was not responding.

An autopsy is pending toxicology reports to find out the cause of death, which could take up to six weeks, Amormino said.

"Homicide was also called and reported that there was nothing suspicious. We are looking at a possible drug overdose."

Amormino said depending on what the report reveals, because Burris was a minor, the case could go to the Orange County district attorney's office.

Services for Burris will be held Sunday, April 3, at 4 p.m. at O’Connor Laguna Hills Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills. 

A team of counselors and support staff have been made available to students and will continue through the entire week or as long as they are needed.

If you would like to make a donation to help the family with the memorial services, make the checks out to Kathy Burris and write “Kelsey Burris Memorial Fund” on the memo line. Donations can be deposited at any Wells Fargo Bank branch.

Check back for more developments.

Please leave your condolences for Kelsey Burris.