Questions remain in student's drowning death
WENATCHEE, Wash. -- Police, school officials and local parents are struggling to understand how a 14-year-old student could have drowned during a Thursday swimming class without anyone noticing for nearly an hour.
Wenatchee High School student Antonio Reyes was found unconscious in the deep end of the school's swimming pool just before 11 a.m., 51 minutes after his own swimming class ended.
"He did not get inside the pool after class," said Det. John Kruse of the Wenatchee Police Department. "Based on the fact the doors were locked properly and we checked with the staff to make sure of that. So it appears he drowned, and that appears to be the most likely scenario, during class."
School officials are also shocked and saddened that Reyes could have gone unnoticed for so long. School superintendent Brian Flones met with Reyes' parents Friday morning.
"There's nothing you can really tell them except that you are concerned for them, that you are saddened, we grieve with you," said Flones."You know this is a traumatic situation. I can't imagine what they are going through."
Reyes' fellow students lined up Friday to say goodbye to the friend they say was always quick to smile. Wearing black ribbons of remembrance, the kids left messages for Reyes on a paper stretched across a table.
But more than anything else, people want to know how this tragedy could have happened.
"The family hasn't explained any medical history to us," Kruse said. "In any investigation you look at the possibility of foul play, but there doesn't appear to be any indicator of that here at all."
School officials say they will review their pool operation guidelines.
Wenatchee High School student Antonio Reyes was found unconscious in the deep end of the school's swimming pool just before 11 a.m., 51 minutes after his own swimming class ended.
"He did not get inside the pool after class," said Det. John Kruse of the Wenatchee Police Department. "Based on the fact the doors were locked properly and we checked with the staff to make sure of that. So it appears he drowned, and that appears to be the most likely scenario, during class."
School officials are also shocked and saddened that Reyes could have gone unnoticed for so long. School superintendent Brian Flones met with Reyes' parents Friday morning.
"There's nothing you can really tell them except that you are concerned for them, that you are saddened, we grieve with you," said Flones."You know this is a traumatic situation. I can't imagine what they are going through."
Reyes' fellow students lined up Friday to say goodbye to the friend they say was always quick to smile. Wearing black ribbons of remembrance, the kids left messages for Reyes on a paper stretched across a table.
But more than anything else, people want to know how this tragedy could have happened.
"The family hasn't explained any medical history to us," Kruse said. "In any investigation you look at the possibility of foul play, but there doesn't appear to be any indicator of that here at all."
School officials say they will review their pool operation guidelines.
Learn about changes coming to commenting