LA JOYA — The child who was found dead inside a car at an elementary on Thursday afternoon was a 5-year-old boy who was related to a staff member at the campus, La Joya school district officials said at a press conference Friday.
La Joya ISD Police Chief Raul Gonzalez said police found the child unresponsive in a staff member’s vehicle outside Dr. Americo Paredes Elementary in Mission after the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 4:04 p.m. Thursday. “The child was taken to the nurse’s office at the campus where they attempted CPR procedures. Local (medical) personnel also arrived to assist, but their efforts to resuscitate the child were unsuccessful,” he said. Gonzalez said the district’s police, the sheriff’s office and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services are working together on the investigation.
Gonzalez said no additional details would be provided at this time since the incident is under investigation.
It remains unclear if the child died as a result of being left inside a hot vehicle. Superintendent Gisela Saenz called the death an “isolated, tragic incident,” offering the district’s condolences.
“And I ask the community to keep the family, our students and our staff at Americo Paredes Elementary in their thoughts and their prayers as they navigate through this tragic event. I want to assure our parents and our community that our schools are safe. This was an isolated incident,” she said.
Saenz said the district is providing support to students and staff with additional counseling services, particularly at Paredes. She singled out campus staff and law enforcement who responded to the death for praise.
Officials took no questions at the press conference.
