McAllen ISD: Nikki Rowe student dies days after underage drinking pool party

McALLEN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — McAllen ISD officials announced the death of a Nikki Rowe student who was identified as the victim in a house party where alcohol was being served to minors, documents show.

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of one of our students,” the district wrote. “Adan De La Cruz, a senior at Rowe High School, passed away today. He was a wonderful young man, very well liked, and much admired by his peers. He will be missed but not forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.”

Nikki Rowe has cancelled a sports scrimmage event that was scheduled for Thursday.

The school’s Meet The Warrior event, scheduled for Friday, has also been canceled.

At 11:39 p.m. on Aug. 17, McAllen police responded to the 4700 block of North Betsen Road regarding a disturbance.

According to an offense report, McAllen dispatch was told that a minor, later identified as Adan De La Cruz, attempted to jump from the roof into the pool. De La Cruz slipped, landed on the ground and hit his head, according to the document obtained by ValleyCentral.

While en route to the home, dispatch was advised that De La Cruz was “unconscious and turning purple.”

At the scene, authorities saw multiple minors rushing toward their vehicles and leaving the residence. They also reported seeing numerous red plastic cups and open Michelob Ultra Beer cans on tables, the report stated.

Authorities say, when they approached De La Cruz he was unconscious by the pool lying on his back. A man was holding his head and another man was conducting chest compressions, the documents allege.

The responding officer said in the report that he saw blood on De La Cruz’s body and asked the man to step back, while he checked for a pulse.

According to the report, the officer found a laceration on the back of De La Cruz’s head and detected a slight pulse. He immediately began chest compressions.

Shortly after, the McAllen Fire Department arrived at the scene and administered medical attention to De La Cruz.

At the police department, detectives identified Jaime Islas and his son had provided alcohol to minors at the house party, including De La Cruz.

During their formal statements, Jaime admitted that he had asked his brother-in-law if his son could host a party at his residence, to which he agreed. According to the report, his brother-in-law was under the impression that Jaime’s son would only be inviting three people.

Jaime’s brother-in-law told authorities Jaime was at the residence when the incident occurred and that he and his son knew there was alcohol during the party.

Video circulating on Snapchat shows De La Cruz slip at the edge of a gazebo roof and land head and neck first onto the ground. In the video, Adan does not appear to move when he lands on the ground.

Additionally, court documents show that a $10 ticket was being sold by the hosts of the party to minors if they purchased them ahead of time. Entry into the party on the day of was $15 at the door, according to police.

Jaime and the minor were both charged with furnishing alcohol to minors. He was arraigned on Sunday and issued a $30,000 bond.

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