An 8-year-old boy tragically drowned after running away from his classroom at Bell’s Crossing Elementary School in Simpsonville, South Carolina, on Thursday, authorities confirmed.
Lionel Ramirez Cervantes was in a classroom with two other students and three school staff members when he suddenly ran into the hallway, out of the building and pushed his way over or through a fence into a field of tall grass, according to a statement from Greenville County Schools. WYFF reported.
He quickly disappeared from sight. School staff immediately The man called police and officers, school staff and community members launched a search to find him. About four hours later, divers discovered Lionel’s body in a neighborhood pond, about 1,000 feet from the school.
“There are a lot of broken hearts today at that school and in that community,” Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said during a news conference. Before the tragic discovery, deputies released information indicating Lionel may have had autism or another developmental disorder and may not have responded to standard verbal cues.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances under which Lionel managed to get off school grounds. However, they stressed that school staff acted quickly and tried to stop him. “This was our worst fear today and we are grieving as a community. We are devastated to lose one of our children. We will rally behind the district for support,” Bell’s Crossing Elementary School Principal Chris Ross said in an emotional statement.
The school remained open Friday and grief counselors were brought in to support both students and teachers. The district has also committed to providing support to Lionel’s family during this difficult time. An autopsy performed Friday determined Lionel’s death was accidental, with the cause being drowning, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.