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MURRIETA: Vista Murrieta student-athlete dies
School cancels all athletic events as classmates mourn
By TOM SHERIDAN - Staff Writer | ∞
MURRIETA ---- A Vista Murrieta High School student collapsed and died Wednesday night after attending a student play at the school.
The student, identified by the Riverside County coroner's office as Shea Iose, 16, of Murrieta, was a junior varsity football player.
Vista Murrieta athletic director Ray Moore confirmed that Iose was at practice earlier Wednesday, but said he had gone home and returned to the school to attend the play, a student production of "The Crucible." Moore said the collapse occurred after the play as a group of friends were running to a car.
Moore called it a "non-athletic incident."
The coroner's office said an autopsy was performed, but the cause of death is pending, following additional test results.
Murrieta Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Karen Parris said that staff members were informed of the incident via a mass notification call on Wednesday night and that the football team was brought together for a team meeting Thursday morning. Grief counselors were dispatched to the campus on Thursday, she said.
"Counselors went into each of the students' classes to make the announcement," Parris said. "And word filtered from there."
Junior varsity and freshman football games scheduled for Thursday were canceled.
The rest of Thursday's athletic events, including golf and water polo matches, were canceled, too. A scheduled performance of the play also was called off.
"We'll work on rescheduling those events," Moore said. "But that's not our priority right now."
After school was dismissed Thursday, sophomores Sky Awad and Xasha Bower gathered with friends near a backstop at the corner of the school's athletic fields. Awad described the mood during school as somber.
"It was quiet and sad," she said. "Everyone was crying."
Friday's events, including the varsity football game between Vista Murrieta and Chaparral, will proceed as scheduled.
Moore said it was hoped that playing the game would promote a "return to normalcy" for students.
Bower said there was talk of dedicating the football game to Iose, and Awad mentioned that students were planning to wear blue to school on Friday, because that was Iose's favorite color.
As word of the death spread Thursday, others in the sports community expressed their condolences.
"It's a football family thing," said Great Oak varsity football coach Scott Strosnider. "We all suffer in this. We feel for them. It's just a tragedy when something like this happens."
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Prayers are with you wrote on Oct 23, 2008 7:43 PM:This is tragic and will touch the lives of everyone who attends that high school. I lost my best friend in high school to a drowning. My thoughts and prayers will be with you,
J.RAM0 wrote on Oct 23, 2008 8:58 PM:R.I.P. Shea. I still find it very hard to believe your gone, We will always remember you Shea.
johnson wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:03 PM:This is a tremondous loss. God will be taking great care of him.
MAY GOD COMFORT AND WRAP HIS LOVING ARMS IN YOUR TIME OF SUFFERING wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:10 PM:MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THIS YOUNG MAN'S FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HIS MOTHER.
VISTA MURRIETA PARENT wrote on Oct 24, 2008 5:52 AM:This is tragic loss, I can't imagine a loss of a child since I have 2 kids that go to this school. My daughter was so upset. My prayer go to his FAMILY.
A Mom wrote on Oct 24, 2008 8:44 AM:I gave my two kids a extra big hug before bed last night.
My heart is hurting for the family of this young man.
My son attends CHS and many of kids were also very upset about the news that someone their own age could be here one minute and gone the next:(
Thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected in this tragedy.
Another Mom wrote on Oct 24, 2008 10:42 AM:How sad it is to hear about the loss of this young life. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to Shea's family.
LiraFam wrote on Oct 24, 2008 1:13 PM:RIP Shea you will be missed...we will always carry you in our hearts.
Patsy wrote on Oct 24, 2008 3:15 PM:Shea, I'll miss your beautiful smile, the way you always made me laugh and most of all the big hugs I always gave you. God bless you always.
MV Mom wrote on Oct 24, 2008 4:57 PM:Shea's MySpace page quote is "live life with the thought that you might not get a chance like this again "
I sincerely hope he did. God bless you and your family Shea.
janicsol wrote on Oct 24, 2008 5:14 PM:you will be missed shea!
you have the biggest heart!!!
we know that your up there now with the big man!!
see you soon!!
we love you!!
TlcShel wrote on Oct 24, 2008 11:30 PM:we all miss you shea
my heart goes out to your family deeply.
look over all of us.
we love you
xoxo
nshaine wrote on Oct 24, 2008 11:54 PM:You will be missed
Even though I've never met you in person I kno your a great guy from what I've heard.
You made my bestfriend very HAPPY
my prayers go out to your family
tyler wrote on Oct 25, 2008 8:14 PM:I heard the news when I was being droped off from school thursday morning to drop off my football bag to the locker when my coach pulled me in for the meeting. Shea had the impact on and off the field including acting like a big brother to us freshman football players. Losing Shea was like losing a brother. Knowing i didnt know him personality, he still is part of the football family and will forever will be. We will never forget Shea; may God be with you for eternity.
Ana wrote on Oct 26, 2008 5:26 PM:Although I never met him, I want to believe that Shea is on a better place right next to God. May good bless and give strengh to his family. I can not imagine the pain of losing a child.
Miraida aka Yaya wrote on Oct 26, 2008 9:25 PM:I MISS YU SO MUCH BRO, IM GONA MISS OUR CRAZY CONVERSATIONS. I KNOW YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY GUARDIAN ANGEL! WATCH 0VER ME LIKE U ALWAYS DID!
... -YAYA
VM Mom wrote on Oct 27, 2008 10:12 AM:Shea... you will be missed by all who knew and loved you. My son said you always greeted him when you'd go to their table, even though you didn't know him. That says alot about a person like you. I got to meet you through the pictures posted by your girl @ the fundraiser. Dios Te Guarde and May He give your family strength to move on.
andres wrote on Oct 28, 2008 10:55 AM:Its hard to believe your gone. Especialy since i saw you before your death after so long. R.I.P. Shea
Jasmine wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:23 AM:Shea you may be gone but you are NEVER forgotten. When i heard about your death I started cryin. I didnt want to believe it was true but I guess it was your time. you are now all of our angels we love you so much and miss you terriably we will c you soon shea please watch over us and guide us through this place we call life, we love you so much. Even people all the way out here in Vista where Shea used to live were all sad and crying. Vista High School just isnt the same with out Shea, but the thought of him coming back and visting was awesome. and now the very look of the school saddens me, memories of shea are all over the place! i love you shea you will always be in my heart. RIP
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