A Texas high school football player died after falling off a roof during a rowdy, booze-filled house party fueled by underage drinking over the weekend.
Adan De La Cruz III, 17, died in the hospital four days after he slipped off a roof and struck his head and neck on the concrete patio below at the party early Saturday in McAllen, according to reports and the school district.
One adult and two minors have been arrested and hit with charges for supplying alcohol to minors, the McAllen police department said, KRGV reported.
De La Cruz, a senior at Nikki Rowe High School, was standing on top of the roof of a gazebo with a friend as dozens of teens watched during the early-morning rager.
His pal jumped off the rooftop into the pool below and De La Cruz appeared ready to follow, but instead lost his footing and plunged to the ground, according to a shocking clip of the death fall shared on social media.
He landed head- and neck-first on the concrete below and did “not appear to move” after he hit the pavement, a police report states.
Police and medics were called to the house party — which was advertised on social media and charged a door fee — at 2:09 a.m., The Monitor reported.
A juvenile girl directed the arriving officers to De La Cruz who was unconscious and lying on his back with a pool of blood under his head, according to a police report obtained by the local outlet.
One teen was holding his head while another was attempting chest compressions, according to the report.
The officers took over life-saving measures before an ambulance arrived and rushed the high schooler to the hospital.
De La Cruz, who had alcohol in his system, died of his injuries in the hospital on Wednesday.
A 51-year-old McAllen man and his teenage son along with a second teen boy were determined to be the hosts and organizers of the party and were arrested.
Jaime De La Cerda Islas, whose brother-in-law owned the house, was jailed on a $30,000 bond which he posted the next day and was released.
The teen boys had created a digital flyer advertising a party at the location and shared the flyer on social media with their Instagram accounts attached as the hosts. The organizers charged $10 for entry ahead of time — which was paid to one of the arrested teen’s CashApp account — and $15 for entry at the door, according to the police report.
Once inside, partygoers had unchecked access to alcoholic beverages already at the party, according to the report.
When officers arrived at the rager for De La Cruz, they witnessed multiple teens running to cars and quickly ditching the party and saw red solo cups and open Michelob Ultra beer cars scattered throughout the property, the report states.
A disco ball light was on and music was still playing over screams from the backyard when they arrived.
The Nikki Rowe High School Student Council has planned a candle-lit memorial for De La Cruz on Friday.
“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of one of our students,” the McAllen ISD said in a news release.
“He was a wonderful young man, very well-liked, and much admired by his peers. He will be missed, but not forgotten.”
