Boy, 12, Reportedly Found Dead in Senior Living Complex in Washington
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NEED TO KNOW
- The body of a 12-year-old boy was found inside a senior living center in Tacoma, Wash., on Sept. 19
- Authorities are currently calling the incident a “suspicious death,” and they are awaiting further information from the county medical examiner
- The boy’s loved ones described the tragedy as “an unimaginable loss”
The body of a 12-year-old boy was reportedly discovered at a Washington senior living community in what authorities are calling a “suspicious death.”
Officers responded to “a report of an unresponsive 12-year-old male” at an address in Tacoma at around 3:00 p.m. local time on Friday, Sept. 19, according to a news release from the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) shared on Facebook.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, per the release.
“Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians are actively investigating this incident as a suspicious death. Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” the release continued.
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In a statement to The News Tribune, officer Shelbie Boyd of the TPD said the boy — who was later identified as Preston Hemingway-Lux — was not found outdoors, though she declined to specify exactly where he was found.
She additionally said that authorities will have more information about the boy’s cause of death once results from the medical examiner’s office become available.
PEOPLE reached out to the TPD and the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office for comment on Saturday, Sept. 27, but did not receive an immediate response.
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Residents of Vintage at Tacoma, a senior living apartment complex, claim the boy’s body was found inside their building, according to local news outlet King 5.
“We’ve had people pass because of age or sickness. But nothing like this,” resident Judy Anderson said.
“I cried when I heard because it just shouldn’t happen to a boy that age. I feel deeply for his family,” she added.
In a GoFundMe, Preston was described as “the perfect son, brother and friend.”
“He was an exceptional student, an athlete who excelled in basketball — someone with a bright future ahead. But beyond the accomplishments and achievements, Preston was truly an incredible person. If you had the privilege of knowing him, you would understand just how wonderful he truly was,” the message on the fundraising page added.
“Words cannot capture the depth of our grief, and we are struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss,” it continued.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
