Brothers, ages 16 and 19, drown in swimming pool at Lincoln Community School in Bayonne
BAYONNE, N.J. -- A New Jersey community is reeling after two teenage brothers drowned at a school swimming pool.
CBS2's Natalie Duddridge spoke with students in Bayonne, who asked how this could happen, especially when police said there were lifeguards on duty at the time of the tragedy on Wednesday night.
"I feel devastated, I feel heartbroken, because I have a grandchild go here," one woman told Duddridge on Thursday. "Why wasn't somebody kind of watching them more?"
Community members are trying to comprehend how the brothers, identified as 16-year-old Jack Zheng and 19-year-old Chu Ming Zheng, drowned at Lincoln Community School's indoor pool.
The City of Bayonne is in mourning tonight, as we learn of the passing of two teenage brothers, who drowned this evening at our Lincoln Community School Pool.
— Mayor Jimmy Davis (@DavisForBayonne) June 9, 2022
I ask that we all respect the privacy of the family, as they deal with this unspeakable tragedy.
According to witnesses, just after 8 p.m. the victims appeared to be in distress in the deep end of the pool.
Police said three lifeguards jumped in to rescue them and were able to pull them out and perform CPR until first responders arrived. They were then rushed to Bayonne Medical Center but could not be revived.
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis was at the hospital with the boys' parents on Wednesday night.
"We have a family that is devastated right now and I have a community that is completely numb. My phone has not stopped ringing. Everybody wants to know what they can do," Davis said.
"Especially both brothers, my heart pours out to the family," said parent Janai Natos. "As a mother, I could only imagine how she's grieving."
Authorities said the parents were at the pool at the time, but were not swimming. A third sibling, an 11-year-old sister, was also in the pool, but police say was never in any danger.
One former student told Duddridge he's a lifeguard on staff, and went through rigorous training.
"Usually, we have either six or four lifeguards, depending on if we're opening the deep end or not," he said.
Police, OSHA and the Board of Education are all now investigating what happened.
On Thursday. crisis and guidance counselors were at Bayonne High School, where officials say Chu Ming Zheng was a recent graduate. Jack Zheng was a current student.
"For something like that to happen in the public, it's such an open area. The pool is so large, but you can oversee the entire thing. For that to happen, it's unbelievable," student Christiana Davis said.
"Losing two of your sons, it seems very heartbreaking. I know everybody else is really sad about it. I know they were friends of people. So it must be hard," one student named Melody said.
"They were the sweetest kids ever and when I found out I just started breaking down in tears. It was the saddest thing ever," friend Isaiah Phillips said. "They would like to play sports. They would always have smiles on their face every day."
"It has been sad. I cried a lot about it. He was really close to me," classmate Andres Giron added. "Chu Ming, really smart. University of Miami. He just came back to visit. Jack, he used to work a lot. He said, 'I had to save up to go to college.'"
According to the pool's website, there is an open swim from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Officials say it will now be closed to all activities until further notice, as police investigate.