Surry County teen mourns loss of brother from carbon monixide exposure: ‘He was my best friend'
SURRY COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — After spending time with friends for spring break on Wednesday morning, 16-year-old Marvin Lopez returned to his home off West Pine Street in Surry County to a stench in the air.
'I'm smelling the gas and everything all around my house. I hear my little sister screaming in pain,' Lopez said.
Lopez said he quickly opened the windows and then noticed that his little brother, 11-year-old Jose Rivera Mejia, was not moving.
'I flipped him over. I already knew he wasn't alive. I knew he was gone. I saw his body,' Lopez said
He passed away after firefighters said he was exposed to carbon monoxide.
He wasn't alone, though. Lopez's stepfather, mother and two sisters were found unconscious. They were all taken to the hospital.
Jose, a child who wanted to be a police officer when he grew up, was the only one who didn't survive.
'I really love my brother so much. He was my best friend … He's with God now. He's in a good place,' Lopez said.
According to the Surry County emergency services director, a generator was running in the basement of their home.
Lopez says this was how his family kept the lights on.
'It was a money problem. My stepdad and mom didn't have that much money,' Lopez said.
While Lopez mourned the loss of his little brother, he shared words of encouragement with the community.
'If y'all have a little brother or a little sister … spend a lot of time with them. Play with them. It doesn't matter if you're too old to play those games. Play with your brother. Have time with your brother before it's too late,' Lopez said.
Lopez says his stepfather, mother and two sisters are still in the hospital.
A GoFundMe has been set up.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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