After 2 Brothers Drown In Hudson County Pool, Investigation And Fundraiser Continue

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — After two brothers drowned in a school pool in Bayonne earlier this month, supporters of the family have donated to a GoFundMe set up to help pay for funeral expenses.

Chu Ming Zheng and Jack Jiang passed away the night of June 8 after they were pulled from a Lincoln Community School pool. Reports have said that Zheng, 19, was a recent Bayonne High School graduate, his brother, 16, was a junior at the school, and the boys' 11-year-old sister was present.

Because three life guards were on duty, residents have been asking what happened. The local police and school district are both investigating, Bayonne Superintendent of Schools John J. Niesz said in a letter.

'Lit Up A Room'

On the GoFundMe page, organizer Eliass Nid-Youssef — who identified himself as Zheng's best friend — wrote, "On June 8, 2022 we all lost two brothers who are very dear to us and hold a special place in our hearts and forever will."

He added, "They left this world and left their two loving parents and their 11 year old sister. Many of us loved these two boys and they both loved us. The memories we have of them will never be enough to match the energy that they brought into a room and the way they lit up a room every time they entered one."

He added, "Please help us in trying to support Chu Ming and Jack’s family in this time that they are facing by raising some money to help cover the funeral service and for any other expenses the family deems right. I plan to take all the money raised and hand it to Mei Jiang, the mother of both these brothers as a check so they can spend it however their hearts desire whether that be funeral service, bills, etc."

As of Tuesday, the page had raised $27,136 of the $25,000 goal.

"I swam alongside the siblings on many occasions, and spoke with them about swimming and school," wrote one donor. "It is absolutely, truly awful and unfair what happened, and I wish peace and justice for their deeply grieving family."

Another wrote, "My condolences go out to Mae, King and Kate. Peace be with you during this difficult time. I will miss you, Leo and Jack."

The Investigation

Bayonne Superintendent of Schools John J. Niesz posted a letter on the night of June 8 saying, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, the Bayonne School Community, and all those impacted by this event."

Niesz also posted a letter the next day with a way to donate gift cards to the family.

In the message, which was also posted in Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic, he also wrote about the investigation

"The incident remains under investigation by the Bayonne Police Department," Niesz wrote on June 9. "Investigations and reports are also being conducted by the school district, school insurance carrier, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)."

He added, "I would also like to advise our community that the Bayonne School District will immediately commission an independent investigation into this incident. I would like to commend our staff, first responders and administration who were present last evening."

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