13-Year-Old Boy Dies While Playing Football In Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A 13-year-old boy died at a local hospital after he collapsed while running off a football field in Pittsburgh's Windgap neighborhood.
Authorities responded to reports of an unresponsive boy at Chartiers Playground at Chartiers Avenue and Middleton Way on Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Police announced.
The 13-year-old boy, identified by the medical examiner as Jordan Duckett, had been playing football and collapsed while running off the field.
He was a member of the Westside Mustang Youth Athletic Association Football team.
The medical examiner tells KDKA that Duckett collapsed just before 8 p.m. and was pronounced dead by doctors at UPMC Children's Hospital about one hour later.
Police processed the scene and said it was an undetermined death.
The Westside Mustangs posted on Facebook that it will hold an emergency meeting Thursday night at 5:30 for all parents, board members, players, cheerleaders and whoever else wants to support Duckett's family during this difficult time.
In a statement, the Westside Mustangs described Duckett as "a positive, energetic and outgoing young man...who was willing to go the extra mile to become the best football player that he could be."
Pittsburgh Public Schools issued a statement, saying:
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8 student Jordan Duckett. The eighth grader was well loved by all. Our thoughts are with his family, as well as the players and coaches of the West End Mustangs."
KDKA's Meghan Schiller reports all practices and games across the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association are canceled following Jordan's death.
New: All practices and games are cancelled this week across the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association following the death of 13 yo Jordan Duckett. @KDKA
— MEGHAN SCHILLER (@MeghanKDKA) August 15, 2019
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.