Boy Drowns in Florida, Identified as Centreville Teen: Police

CENTREVILLE, VA — A 14-year-old Centreville boy with Down syndrome drowned Wednesday while vacationing with his family in the Florida panhandle, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

Joquis Levano's body, police said. was found by divers around 6:20 p.m. off Norriego Point in Destin,

According to the police report, on Wednesday around 4 p.m., his mother, Sandra Eliza Roca Lu, was wading in shallow water with her three sons but when the current started to get stronger, Roca Lu told her sons it was time to get out of the water. Two of the boys were hanging onto a float, while Joaquin, who had Down syndrome, was walking a few feet behind her.

Roca Lu said she had turned her head for about 30 to 60 seconds as she led the boys back to shore. When she turned back toward Joaquin, he was gone.

Joaquin’s father, Jorge Levano Vasquez, told deputies he had been on the shore taking photos of his family in the water when his wife began to scream that she could not see Joaquin.

Vasquez rushed into the water to no avail.

Joaquin’s parents told deputies that he couldn't swim but wasn't wearing a life vest because he was in shallow water.

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