KANSAS CITY, Missouri – A 15-year-old student at Shawnee Mission Northwest died two days after being hospitalized for a medical emergency.

The Shawnee Mission School District confirmed the student’s death on Friday. Johnson County Med-Act transported the student to a hospital in critical condition on Wednesday.

The school district identified the student as Ovet Gomez Regalado, a sophomore.

Some of Regalado’s classmates have already spoken out about the tragedy.

“He was always happy and always had a smile on his face and lit up the room,” said a classmate.

Members of the Shawnee community have also commented on the incident.

“Every time we hear such stories from young athletes, we usually wonder what could have happened?” asks Sarahi Ortiz, who lives near the school and is struggling with the heat herself.

“Was it the heat? It was pretty hot out here. Were there any medical conditions that might have made what happened to him worse?”

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The principal of Shawnee Mission Northwest sent the following letter to parents:

“Dear Shawnee Mission Northwest staff and families,

I am writing to share some difficult news with you. This morning we learned of the passing of Ovet Gomez Regalado, a sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As you can imagine, this has been an extremely difficult time for the family. Ovet was such a warm and wonderful student who touched the hearts of so many in our community.

Death is always difficult to cope with, but especially when someone dies so young. It is important to recognise that we all need time to process what has happened and to express our feelings. Your child may have difficulty understanding this death. Please encourage your child to express their feelings and talk to them about what has happened.

At the same time, it’s important to understand that there are many details we don’t know. Your child will hear many different things, but please encourage them not to make assumptions or spread rumors. The family needs privacy while they deal with their grief, and the administration asks that everyone respect that privacy.

School and district staff are available to help anyone who is struggling to manage their feelings about this difficult topic. If your child would like to talk to someone, please encourage them to tell an adult and we will help.

Again, there are many questions we cannot answer, but we can support each other during this difficult time. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Lisa Gruman

Rector“

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