Latest news with #KRDO
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Father-to-Be, 19, Killed by Falling Tree Limb: 'A Smile That Would Just Melt Your Heart'
A 19-year-old soon-to-be-father and former high school football star has died after he was struck by a tree branch The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said that 19-year-old Aiden Hernandez, of Woodland Park, Colo., died on May 29, following the work incident The former football player was set to welcome his first child with his longtime girlfriend in JulyA 19-year-old soon-to-be-father and former high school football star in Colorado has died after he was struck by a tree branch, local authorities say. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office confirmed to local outlet KRDO that 19-year-old Aiden Hernandez, of Woodland Park, Colo., died Thursday, May 29. Deputies were called to the scene after a work accident in Colorado Springs, about 70 miles south of Denver, just before 10 a.m. local time on May 29. Although they administered CPR, Hernandez was pronounced dead on the scene, the Sheriff's Office told the outlet. Members of the local community have spoken out about Hernandez's death. The soon-to-be-dad was a well-known high school football player and was described in his obituary as "a talented athlete" who was "known on the football field as 'The Beast,' a nickname earned through his passion, strength, and dedication to the game." "Incredible young man, great energy, A smile that would just melt your heart. Very intense. Very driven young man, even from an early age," the teen's former football coach, Chad Drummond, told KRDO. "It dropped me to the floor," Drummond said of the 19-year-old's death. "I don't know if I've still accepted it." The El Paso County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information. Hernandez was expecting his first child, a boy to be named Zion, with his longtime girlfriend this summer. "He was preparing to be an incredible father and partner, ready to build a beautiful life full of love, adventure, and devotion," his obituary states. In his final Facebook post shared just hours before his death, Hernandez wrote: "I have no words for how much I love this woman, and for what we have coming! I'm forever grateful and I count the days down till we can meet little Zi." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Drummond told KRDO that his family was extremely close-knit. "If he had an event, everyone was there. If someone else in the family had an event, they were all there," Drummond said. "They supported each other from morning to night, which is why my heart breaks for this family. It is absolutely a catastrophic loss." The 19-year-old's family shared in his obituary that he "lived life to the fullest." "Whether he was jumping off cliffs, climbing mountains on camping trips, or swimming across Pueblo Reservoir, he approached every adventure with a fearless heart and a bright smile," the obituary adds. "Even during difficult times, Aiden's focus was always on lifting others and making the most of every moment." A celebration of life is set to be held on Sunday, June 7. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Colorado Springs neighbor says Boulder terror attack suspect lived next door
Bradley Davis COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A family in the Cimarron Hills area of Colorado Springs said they recognized the man arrested in Boulder for the attack on Israeli hostage protestors as their neighbor. A man reportedly set people on fire on Sunday, leaving multiple people hurt as people gathered for a demonstration in support of the Israeli hostages. The neighbors wanted their names to be anonymous, but the mother said a man living at the apartment complex investigated by the FBI Sunday night introduced himself to her as 'Mohamed' when they moved in two years ago. The FBI said their suspect in custody is a man named Mohamed Soliman. According to Stephen Miller, who is serving as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, the suspect was living in the country illegally on an overstayed visa. Miller said he was granted a tourist visa under the Biden Administration. 'This is scary. I'm going to be honest, this is scary,' the woman said. 'Especially the times that we live in. You see someone's car pull up, and you don't know who is who.' The mother's young daughter said she went next door to play with the man's children on a regular basis. She said she was going over to do the same Saturday, a day before the attack, when she said the whole family piled into their SUV in a rush, ignoring her as she walked over to their door. 'My mom asked me if they waved or not, and they didn't because the dad was driving, and he was rushing,' she said. 'You saw the dad driving on Saturday?' KRDO13's Bradley Davis asked. 'Yes.' 'Did he look like the picture of the man you saw who got arrested?' 'Yes.' She also said she saw the dad, introduced to them as Mohamed, walking out of the apartment with a large black bag and a yellow long-nosed lighter shortly before leaving. Both said they heard the FBI investigators when they came to their street on Sunday. The mother said the agents started further up the street and assumed it was about someone she didn't know until she heard them close in on their neighbor's home. 'You heard them yell out the address, and that's when we knew,' she said. The daughter said she heard a loud banging and believes it was the FBI agents entering the home. Both said they did not see any of the family members during the whole process. They said all the family's cars are gone from the street and driveway. The woman said the FBI did not contact them to ask about Mohamed or the family. She said they have eaten together, and they always seemed like a normal, neighborly family. The FBI said it was investigating the home in Cimarron Hills in connection with what the agency is calling a terror attack in Boulder. It has not been officially confirmed by law enforcement that it is the residence of their suspect, Mohamed Soliman. Law enforcement officials said there are now 8 victims in the attack, where Soliman allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower to burn the Israeli hostage protestors. Click here to follow the original article.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Teen, 13, dies in 25-foot fall through attic floor at afterschool program
A Colorado community was reeling and seeking answers Tuesday after a 13-year-old girl fell through an attic floor at her afterschool program and plummeted 25 feet to her death. Authorities in Pueblo confirmed that Joeylin Kenley McDonald died Friday at about 7 p.m. during a Head Start program Youth Kickback event at the Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, and Redevelopment Empowerment Center, KRDO-TV and other outlets reported. Empowerment center CEO Christopher W. Hall confirmed with 'profoundly broken hearts' the 'tragic loss' of 'precious soul' Joeylin, he told USA Today. Joeylin had been with her peers when she fell, but no one else was injured, police said. An investigation into what happened and why the children were in the attic was still underway, and authorities were still determining whether the matter was criminal or not, KRDO reported. The teen attended Connect Charter School in Pueblo, about 50 miles south of Colorado Springs, her aunt, Caitlyn Valdez, told KRDO. The avid dancer, soccer player and star student competed in the Miss Pueblo County scholarship pageant, finishing last year as a runner-up for Miss Pre-Teen, Valdez told the outlet, adding that she had also been crowned Miss Spirit 2024. 'Joeylin was the brightest soul in the world,' Valdez said in a statement. 'She is smart, headstrong, beautiful, sassy, sweet, caring and one hell of a hard worker. A true force to be reckoned with.' Her fellow students wore pink, Joeylin's favorite color, to school on Monday in her honor, Valdez said. Foremost among Joeylin's passions was her family — five siblings, her parents and a network of other relatives, her aunt said. 'Mourning the loss of such a beautiful soul will be a daily task for the rest of our lives,' Valdez said. 'Joeylin is one of a kind and will never be forgotten.' _____
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
13-year-old girl dies after falling through attic of Colorado childcare facility: Reports
13-year-old girl dies after falling through attic of Colorado childcare facility: Reports 'Mourning the loss of such a beautiful soul will be a daily task for the rest of our lives,' the 13-year-old's aunt told a local media outlet. Show Caption Hide Caption Watch teenager save her father's life after tragedy via organ donation 13-year-old Symaria Glenn died unexpectedly. Her family opted to donate her organs and save the lives of five people including her own father. USA Today A 13-year-old died after falling approximately 25 feet through an attic at a childcare facility in Colorado, according to multiple reports. Joeylin Kenley McDonald, a 13-year-old described as a "a precious young soul," died on April 18 of injuries sustained from falling through the attic of the Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, and Redevelopment (RMSER) Empowerment Center, an after-school head start program, in Pueblo, about 50 miles south of Colorado Springs, FOX21 News and KRDO reported. Pueblo Police Department told FOX21 News that officers responded to the incident shortly after 7 p.m. on April 18. Police told KRDO they arrived at the scene to find the teen dead and said she was with a group of juveniles at the time. Police did not specify why the children were in the attic and what caused the fall, but said no other children were injured in the incident. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to the local outlets. However, an update on it was not available, and the authorities did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for more information. RMSER CEO: 'A tragic loss within our community' RMSER CEO Christopher W. Hall, in a statement to USA TODAY on April 22, mourned the teenager's death and said it occurred during a Youth Kickback event at the community-based organization's center in Pueblo. "It is with profoundly broken hearts that we at RMSER mournfully acknowledge the heartbreaking news of a tragic loss within our community," Hall said. "On Friday evening, during a Youth Kickback event at the RMSER Pueblo Empowerment Center & Resilience Hub, a precious young soul, Joeylin, age 13, tragically passed away in an accident." Describing Joeylin as "a bright and beloved light in our community," Hall said her "sudden passing is a devastating blow to all who knew and loved her." Hall added that the "exact circumstances" of the accident are under investigation and requested community members to "join us in lifting in loving support and deep prayer for Joeylin, her family, friends, and all who are grieving during this unimaginable time." Joeylin was 'one of a kind,' says aunt Joeylin's aunt, Caitlyn Valdez, in a statement to KRDO13, called the teenager "the brightest soul in the world" and "a true force to be reckoned with." Valdez said Joeylin was a 10th-year student at Connect Charter in Pueblo and was a bright student, like her mother. She enjoyed playing soccer, was an avid dancer and was also an alumnus and contestant in the Miss Pueblo County scholarship pageant, where last year she was runner-up for Miss Pre-Teen and crowned Miss Spirit 2024. "The most important part of Joeylin is her family," Valdez said, adding she was very close to her siblings and parents. "Mourning the loss of such a beautiful soul will be a daily task for the rest of our lives," Valdez said. "Joeylin is one of a kind and will never be forgotten." Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Girl, 13, killed in freak accident at Colorado after-school program
A 13-year-old girl tragically died after she fell 25 feet through the attic floor at a Colorado after-school program. The Pueblo Police Department were called to Rocky Mountain SER - a local food pantry about two hours outside of Denver - on Friday around 7 pm and found Joeylin Kenley McDonald dead at the scene. It is unclear how she got in the attic or where in the building she fell from, but police said she was with a group of juveniles at the time, KRDO reported. The fateful acciden t took place during a youth kickball game at the food pantry, the organization said. 'It is with profoundly broken hearts that we at RMSER mournfully acknowledge the heartbreaking news of a tragic loss within our community,' the group continued. 'On Friday evening, during a Youth Kickback event at the RMSER Pueblo Empowerment Center & Resilience Hub, a precious young soul, Joeylin, age 13, tragically passed away in an accident. 'Joeylin was a bright and beloved light in our community, and her sudden passing is a devastating blow to all who knew and loved her. 'While the exact circumstances of this tragedy remain under investigation, we ask the Pueblo community and beyond to join us in lifting in loving support and deep prayer for Joeylin, her family, friends, and all who are grieving during this unimaginable time.' Rocky Mountain SER manages four different empowerment centers - one in Pueblo, another in Denver, a third in Alamosa, and the fourth in San Luis, according to its website. Joeylin's heartbroken family has remembered her as a 'smart, headstrong, beautiful, sassy, sweet, caring and one hell of a hard worker.' 'Joeylin was the brightest soul in the world. She is smart, headstrong, beautiful, sassy, sweet, caring and one hell of a hard worker. A true force to be reckoned with,' her aunt Caitlyn Valdez said. Valdez said her late niece attended Connect Charter School in Pueblo and was 'all about education like her mama.' 'This coming weekend her team will be competing at State history day competition. Joeylin has many friends who honored her at school today by wearing her favorite color, pink,' she shared. The middle schooler enjoyed many sports and activities, including soccer, dance and pageants. 'Joeylin played soccer for the Rangers, who are undefeated this season! This was her 10th year and 20th season. She enjoyed soccer very much. 'Joeylin [was] also an alumnus/contestant in the Miss Pueblo County scholarship pageant, where last year she was runner-up for Miss Pre-Teen and also crowned Miss Spirit 2024. 'Joeylin absolutely [loved] the pageant and was involved with lots of community services around Pueblo. 'Joeylin [danced] for Sarah Shaw. She [had] been dancing for many years, in jazz, tap, hip hop, and ballet. She [had] a recital coming up in May. She [had] been dancing since she was 7 years old.' 'She [was] extremely dedicated to her brothers and sisters, and you could never decide if she was a mama's girl or a daddy's girl. She [held] a special bond with each and every one of her five siblings,' her grieving aunt stated. 'Mourning the loss of such a beautiful soul will be a daily task for the rest of our lives. Joeylin [was] one of a kind and will never be forgotten.' Her father, Jeremy McDonald, posted several images of his late daughter to Facebook and wrote about his 'beautiful baby girl.' 'You are my beautiful baby girl I'm losing my mind not being able to hear your voice and it's crazy I miss you yelling at me stomping your feet at me when you didn't get your way, I miss your beautiful smile when you walked into the room, Joeylin daddy and mommy miss you so much,' Jeremy said. On Saturday, Joeylin's mother, Lauren McDonald, said her 'beautiful sweet girl became and angel tonight.' 'Please pray for my other babies for healing. We are all feeling broken right now. Joeylin there won't be a day you don't cross our minds. We love you sweet girl,' she added. A Meal Train donation page has been created to help her family during this challenging time. 'She was the light in the dark, the stars in the sky. She will be greatly missed,' the page said. As of Tuesday morning, more than $800 had been raised. It is unclear when her funeral will be.
