This story was updated Tuesday, July 3, at 9:05 p.m.
Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— The Park Forest Police Department is investigating the drowning death of a 10-year-old boy who entered the Aqua Center, a swimming facility, after-hours overnight, according to a release from the Village of Park Forest.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the boy at Jaleel R. Drayton, 10, of the 200 block of Gold Street in Park Forest. No autopsy was scheduled for today, July 3. Jaleel Drayton was a fourth-grade student at the Michelle Obama School of Technology and the ARTS in Park Forest.
Shortly before 4 a.m., the Park Forest Police Department was dispatched to a residence in reference to the report of a missing boy, according to police. Family members related that the boy had been playing in the area of Central Park.
As police searched for the missing boy, family members checking the area on foot alerted police to the boy being in a pool inside the facility after observing the boy’s clothing outside of one of the pools.
A police officer scaled the perimeter fence and entered the pool, recovering the boy and immediately began performing CPR on the child, according to police. Park Forest Paramedics rushed the juvenile to Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. However, the boy was later pronounced deceased.
The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded to assist with the processing of the scene, according to police.
The Aqua Center facility is owned by the Village of Park Forest and is managed by Jeff Ellis Management. The Aqua Center will remain closed for the day, July 3, 2018, according to the release.
“As this remains an active death investigation, no additional details will be released at this time,” the statement said. “While any death is reason to grieve, the death of a child is particularly troubling, and the Park Forest Police Department offers its sincerest condolences to the loved ones and friends of the juvenile.”
“The Village of Park Forest extends the deepest condolences to all impacted by the loss of the boy involved in this incident,” a statement on the Village of Park Forest website concluded.
The Aqua Center will remain closed on Wednesday, July 4, as the investigation continues.
UPDATE: The Park Forest Aqua Center will remain closed on Wednesday, July 4, as the investigation into the drowning…
Posted by Village of Park Forest Recreation and Parks on Tuesday, July 3, 2018
A report from WGN-TV on the tragic drowning at the Aqua Center:
From WLS, ABC7Chicago:
From CBS 2 Chicago:
