An outpouring of grief and outrage is sweeping through the community.
People are expressing sympathy for the family of Carson Crimeni, as well as anger towards the people who recorded the teenager in obvious distress before his death, then posted videos online 鈥� all without calling 9-1-1.
Hundreds attended a vigil at Walnut Grove Community Park last Thursday night, gathering around the skate park bowl where Carson frequented. They lit candles and laid bouquets of flowers, a backpack, and even a skateboard.
Among those present were Carson鈥檚 family. They were seen talking to participants, collecting cards and written condolences, as well as some of the flowers and teddy bears.
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There were many tears and hugs shared among the crowd, which included children, youth, and adults, as well as police.
Among visitors to the makeshift memorial was Christian Lussin, 17, who said he didn鈥檛 know Carson well, but mourned his passing all the same.
Lussin laid a small bouquet of flowers and a scribed note: 鈥淧rayers go out to you and your family. R.I.P.鈥�
鈥淚 wish it didn鈥檛 happen to anyone,鈥� Lussin said. 鈥淚 came because鈥� caring. I don鈥檛 know. I didn鈥檛 know him much, but I wish I鈥檇 got to know him a bit better, honestly. I mean, no one deserves to die like this, at such a young age.鈥�
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In the days since, more people stopped by the makeshift memorial at the Walnut Grove skate park, to pay their respects to the late 14-year-old.
An online gofundme.com campaign has also been set up to help the family.
As of Tuesday morning, the 鈥淐arson Crimeni Memorial Fund鈥� reported 485 donors had contributed $28,400 鈥� well above the fundraising goal of $20,000.
It described Crimeni, a Grade 9 student at Walnut Grove Secondary, as a 鈥渓oving, energetic and happy high school student鈥� who enjoyed playing hockey, video games, and hanging out with friends and family.
Organizer Julie Nakahara described the loss of Carson as 鈥渁 tragedy that no family should have to endure,鈥� adding it was 鈥渉eartbreaking to learn that Carson may have been visibly suffering while people taunted, filmed, and photographed him 鈥� instead of calling for help.鈥�
Donor Carl Wheaton, who lost his daughter to an accidental drug overdose earlier this year, described Carson鈥檚 death as 鈥渢ragic and senseless.鈥�
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Other online commenters said the incident shows the need to educate kids about drug hazards.
Brian Ulle said rather than wasting efforts trashing the people who took the videos, talk to your children.
鈥淏est way to honour this little man and his family is to try change the behaviour of others so it doesn鈥檛 happen again,鈥� Ulle said.
Bren Lynne said she felt 鈥渟ick and heart-broken over this senseless death of a young boy,鈥� while hoping this incident will save many other young lives.
鈥淧arents, talk to your teens and hopefully they will learn from this and [it] doesn鈥檛 have to happen again,鈥� said Lynne.
91原创 School District notified parents by email on Thursday, saying 鈥渨ith great sadness that the district confirms a Grade 9 student at Walnut Grove Secondary School has passed away unexpectedly,鈥� and offering condolences to the Crimeni family.
It included information about agencies offering emotional support and advised counselling services will be available at the school in September for students and staff.
鈥淟osing a student at one of our schools impacts everyone in our community including students, teachers, and our staff,鈥� the statement added.
91原创 Hospice Society executive director Carissa Halley said feelings of grief are 鈥渁 natural reaction鈥� to a tragic loss like Carson鈥檚 passing.
鈥淭ruly, the only cure for grief is to grieve,鈥� Halley said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that as a community, we allow grief to be heard, talked about, given a voice.
鈥淓vents like these can motivate us to seek support and understanding from our own networks of friends, family 鈥� and the broader community,鈥� she said.
Hospice has information and resources available for those struggling. They鈥檙e available through the hospice supportive program centre, which is open Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
91原创 Hospice Society can also be reached at 604-530-1115 or langleyhospice.com.
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Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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