Boy, 12, Was Reportedly Found Dead in a Senior Living Complex. Police Are Now Calling the Circumstances ‘Suspicious’

The assemblage of a 12-year-old boy was reportedly discovered astatine a Washington elder surviving organization successful what authorities are calling a “suspicious death.”

Officers responded to “a study of an unresponsive 12-year-old male” astatine an reside successful Tacoma astatine astir 3:00 p.m. section clip connected Friday, Sept. 19, according to a news release from nan Tacoma Police Department (TPD) shared connected Facebook.

The boy was pronounced dormant astatine nan scene, per nan release.

“Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians are actively investigating this incident arsenic a suspicious death. Additional accusation will beryllium released arsenic it becomes available,” nan merchandise continued.

In a connection to The News Tribune, serviceman Shelbie Boyd of nan TPD said nan boy — who was later identified arsenic Preston Hemingway-Lux — was not recovered outdoors, though she declined to specify precisely wherever he was found.

She additionally said that authorities will person much accusation astir nan boy’s origin of decease erstwhile results from nan aesculapian examiner’s agency go available.

PEOPLE reached retired to nan TPD and nan Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office for remark connected Saturday, Sept. 27, but did not person an contiguous response.

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Residents of Vintage astatine Tacoma, a elder surviving flat complex, declare nan boy’s assemblage was recovered wrong their building, according to section news outlet King 5.

“We’ve had group walk because of property aliases sickness. But thing for illustration this,” resident Judy Anderson said.

“I cried erstwhile I heard because it conscionable shouldn't hap to a boy that age. I consciousness profoundly for his family,” she added.

In a GoFundMe, Preston was described arsenic “the cleanable son, relative and friend.”

“He was an exceptional student, an jock who excelled successful hoops — personification pinch a agleam early ahead. But beyond nan accomplishments and achievements, Preston was genuinely an unthinkable person. If you had nan privilege of knowing him, you would understand conscionable really awesome he genuinely was,” nan connection connected nan fundraising page added.

“Words cannot seizure nan extent of our grief, and we are struggling to travel to position pinch this unimaginable loss,” it continued.