Death Of Tesoro Freshman Leaves Community Reeling

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — The mysterious death of a well-liked Tesoro High School freshman this week has left a community searching for answers. A toxicology report is pending for the unnamed boy, who died a hospital after paramedics found him collapsed on a Ladera Ranch lawn Tuesday. Not only are the boy's family members suffering, but so are his friends, who watched him slip into unconsciousness.

Now classmates and their parents are wondering how this could have happened and how it can be prevented from happening again.

The 14-year-old boy was carried to the lawn outside Ladera Ranch resident Lisa Nickell's house Tuesday night, and his friends banged on her door.

“Well the kids came to the door, one of the kids was ringing the doorbell incessantly so she could find out what our address was,” Nickell told CBS Los Angeles.

The boys friends had pulled him out of the car and onto the lawn, where he lay not breathing.

“It could have been medically…he was having a siezure, but I think something else was involved," Nickell told the news station. "And that’s the part that’s really disturbing as a parent, to find out there might have been other substances involved, and how did these kids get it? At this age.”

According to the Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz, paramedics were frustrated by their inability to get information from the boy's friends so they could treat him properly.

The boy was known for being smart, funny and loyal, according to CBS Los Angeles,

“He was just a very accepting guy and everyone loved him,” Tesoro student Jack Steven told CBS. “It’s gonna be hard thinking you can’t go to him for guidance and talking and stuff like that.”

Photo: Shutterstock