United in week of loss, Centennial remembers
Packed vigil for four starts school return from spring break
Hundreds of students, faculty members and family filled the football bleachers at Centennial High School on Tuesday night to honor the lives of four classmates who died over spring break.
Three of the four students, A.J. Rossi, 17; Brooke Hawley, 17; and Dylan Mack, 18, died Thursday morning after being hit by a drunken driving suspect in Southern California. The suspect, 27-year-old Bani Duarte, rear-ended their red Toyota while it was stopped at a light, Huntington Beach police said.
A 16-year-old junior, Matt Touma, took his own life early Thursday at his Las Vegas home, his family said. Touma reached the rank of Eagle Scout in his Boy Scout troop last month, his family said. He was part of the school’s football and swim teams, and he was working at a Raising Cane’s to save up for a car.
Principal Trent Day said the outpouring of support shows that the students care for one another and have bright futures.
“The one thing that all four of them had in common was they all had infectious smiles,” Day said.
A.J.’S smile would get him out of
trouble, his sister Allie Rossi told the crowd.
“Twelve o’clock curfew, he’d get home at 12:30 and smile, and I’m like, ‘Ugh, OK, you’re fine,’” she said.
He had a heart of gold and knew the difference between right and wrong, she said. After she had a tough year, she said, A.J. did more for her than anyone else had in her whole life.
“He was just a good boy,” she said. People in the bleachers cried as pictures of the four flashed in a slideshow. Selfies, vacation and work photos and family portraits appeared and disappeared after a few seconds.
Many in attendance held candles
STUDENTS
in their hands while the slideshow played.
“It just shows me that people care and our generation isn’t heartless,” said Dylan’s best friend, Tyler Mcadams.
Morgan Mack, Dylan’s father, said neighbors, past co-workers and others have reached out to show support for his family.
“There’s a sense of community that we have that’s just engulfed us this past couple of days,” said Mack, wearing a shirt honoring his son.
Matt’s mother, Kathy Touma, doesn’t know why the Eagle Scout took his own life. She never saw any warning signs, she said. But she told the crowd not to feel guilty or responsible for her son’s death.
“It doesn’t matter that maybe he texted you and you got busy and you didn’t text him back,” she said. “It’s not your fault.”
Brooke’s sister Heather Hawley was in awe of the turnout.
“It’s crazy to see just how loved all of these kids were,” she said.
A friend of Brooke’s, Eve C., 17, wrote a message for her and the three others at a booth set up for loved ones to write messages for the victims and their families. Eve and Brooke often danced when they hung out, and Eve would talk about life with A.J., she said. Dylan was a good listener and lent an ear when she needed to vent.
“Nobody deserves to go out like this,” she said. “Not this young.”
Before the ceremony began, students shuffled onto the football field to take a group photo commemorating the vigil. The group stood in the shape of a heart before they released balloons into the air.
“I’m beyond overwhelmed,” Kathy Touma said, gesturing to the hundreds of students. “Just look at this.”
“This is not only for my son but for the other kids in the community, and Centennial High School is a family.”
Contact Mike Shoro at mshoro@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @mike_shoro on Twitter. Review-journal staff writer Rio Lacanlale contributed to this report.