Family, Friends of Johnston Student Gather to Remember Teen

Hundreds of family, friends and community members of a Johnston teen who died over the weekend gathered Monday night at a Pleasant Hill church.

The crowd remembered 15-year-old Cameron Carico, who took his life on Saturday, with a candlelight vigil at Oakwood United Methodist Church in Pleasant Hill.

"Tonight, we come to remember, we come to celebrate and to start to heal," said David Travnicek, youth and young adult associate with the church. "Cameron was respectful and inclusive. There wasn't a person he wouldn't call a friend. Cameron made an impression on us, that's why we're here."

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With tears, hugs and fond memories, Cameron's parents, Brian and Dawn, along with sister Kate, were comforted by friends and community members. Brian Carico is the principal at Johnston Middle School, while Dawn is a reading teacher at Horizon Elementary School in Johnston.

A Weekend of Loss for Johnston

Cameron was one of two 15-year-old boys, including a Johnston High School student, who died in unrelated cases, authorities said. Cameron, a ninth-grader at Johnston Middle School, died Saturday morning, while Spenser Nelson, a 10th-grader, died on Sunday night.

Sydney Crook, an eighth-grader at Johnston Middle School recalled Cameron's infection, beautiful smile.

"He was very kind and generous," she remembered.

Cierra Moore, a Southeast Polk eighth-grader, remembered Cameron's friendship.

"He was everybody's friend," she said. "He would do anything for us."

Johnston Community Will Feel Impact of Teen's Death

The aftermath of Cameron's decision is like a ripple effect, Travnicek said.

"There's an initial impact, then waves that go out. We are living in the wave. The way Cameron died was a permanent solution to a temporary problem," he said.

Last summer, Cameron attended Summer Games University at the church.

"I have never seen someone more on fire for Christ than Cameron Carico," Travnicek said. "Thursday nights will always remind me of the joy and passion we lost in Cameron Carico."

Travnicek reminded the young people in attendance that hope is never lost.

"You have support, you have love," he said. "You have friends, you have teachers. … Hope is not dead, that is why we let Cameron live in our heart."

After communion and a prayer, Travnicek opened the vigil for anyone who wanted to say a prayer for Cameron.

Victim's Sister Among the Speakers

Among the young people to talk was Cameron's sister Kate.

"God, I pray for my brother, that he's in good care," the eighth-grader said.
She recited Cameron's favorite verse, Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble," Kate said. "God said it best in that verse."

The evening ended with a moment of silence while candles were held high.

"Candles guide us through this dark time," Travnicek said. "These candles show that we loved him. Out of this, God will make beautiful things."

Those in attendance were invited to pray with Travnicek and other church leaders and sign a banner for the Carico family.

"Even though he's not here, he feels like he's here with us," said Sydney Crook.

Two Johnston Teens Take Lives Over Weekend

On Monday, the Johnston community was reeling with the weekend tragedies.

The Johnston School District made grief counselors available to students and staff Monday.

A parent's meeting will be held at Johnston Middle School at 5 p.m. Tuesday to help parents deal with student's grief.

More than 300 students, community members and strangers have offered support and memories of Cameron on a facebook page.

The page said students would wear red to school on Monday in honor of Cameron's love for Iowa State University.

A similar page in memory of Spenser has nearly 100 members as of Monday afternoon.

Services Set for Teens Who Died

The families of both boys have announced visitation and funeral arrangements.

A visitation for Cameron will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Oakwood United Methodist Church, 440 N.E. 56th St. in Pleasant Hill.

Funeral services for Cameron will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at Oakwood Methodist Church.

The visitation for Spenser Nelson will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at Johnston Evangelical Free Church, 9901 N.W. 62nd Ave.

Funeral services for Spenser will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, at Johnston Evangelical Free Church.

According to a Facebook page set up in memory of Spenser, a candle-lighting ceremony in his name will be held next week, at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Hanes Park in Altoona.

Click here to find a list of warning signs for troubled teens and how to get help for Johnston students.