SHAWNEE, Kansas (KCTV/Gray News) – A 15-year-old high school student has died just days after the start of the school year.
The Shawnee Mission Northwest High School sophomore was hospitalized after requiring medical attention during an offseason conditioning workout.
Johnson County officials confirmed that emergency personnel were called to Shawnee Mission Northwest High School on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency personnel took the 15-year-old student to the hospital, who was in critical condition at the time.
The school district learned Friday that the student had eventually died.
The district shared the news in an email to families.
“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,” Principal Lisa Gruman said in the statement, among other things.
Gruman mentioned that much is still unknown about Ovet’s death.
The incident had an impact on the entire district.
“This is shocking news for all of us. This is not supposed to happen. Young people are not supposed to die,” said David Smith, spokesman for the Shawnee Mission School District. “We are all trying to cope and process this and feel the grief that comes with it. This is not supposed to happen.”
Smith also said that Ovet will be missed by many.
“From the reactions of the teachers and other staff, I can tell he was a great kid and Northwest is truly going to suffer a loss,” Smith added.
Staff at the school are available to talk to anyone who is having difficulties with the emotional situation.
The district said Ovet was a well-liked member of the Shawnee Mission Northwest community.
Ovet’s family asked for privacy during this devastating time.
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