A Parkland Middle School student was killed during the National Student Walkout to protest gun violence on Friday in Texas, Newsweek reported.
The 11-year-old, Jonathan Benko, joined students nationwide to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School mass shooting with a walkout of classes, but was fatally struck by a vehicle when trying to cross over a busy highway in Northeast El Paso.
The boy was rushed to UMC, where his mother and uncle both work but his injuries were too extensive, and he died shortly after arriving.
UMC President and CEO, Jacob Cintron, confirmed Benko’s death in a statement, noting that the medical center’s staff were “heartbroken” by the loss of a child belonging to one of their associates, KVIA reported.
The Ysleta Independent School District notified parents of the boy’s death via a voicemail released noon Friday.
Ysleta ISD Superintendent Xavier De la Torre later explained that Benko had left school campus with about 12 to 15 students to participate in the planned walkout but that a small group “breached” the school’s perimeter when they tried to cross the road to get to an adjacent park, KFox14 noted.
Police have since identified the driver of the pick-up truck that struck Benko as 61-year-old Jesus Diaz and, while investigations continue, El Paso police spokesman Darrel Petry said no charges have been filed, CBS News reported.
Meanwhile, students at Parklands Middle School have been shaken by the incident.
One eighth-grader, Daniela Ramirez, told the El Paso Times that the whole school was grieving Benko’s death.
“Inside (school), they're crying. They don't have nothing to say. The halls are empty. It's messed up,” the 14-year-old said.
Angela Rodriguez, another Parkland Middle School eight grader who shared an orchestra class with Benko, described him as a “free spirit” who was “always lighting up the room.”