Bennett Rill, a 14-year-old who had just finished his last day of middle school, was apparently trying to gain access to the roof of a Northern Virginia elementary school when tragedy struck.
The Washington Post has details:
The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. at Fox Mill Elementary School in the 2600 block of Viking Drive in the Herndon area, and involved three 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old. A police spokesman said it was not clear what the boys were doing there.
Police said the 14-year-old was electrocuted after he “inadvertently” touched a live wire. The three others were injured when they came to the aid of the youth.
The county fire and rescue service said in a Twitter message that it appeared one of the youths was dangling from a conduit 8 to 10 feet from the ground.
Bennett was pronounced dead at the scene. The three other boys were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
The teens were reportedly using a wire to gain access to the roof. According to Bennett's father, Derrick Rill, Bennett was electrocuted when he became entangled while trying to help a friend who had fallen.
Rill's father told WJLA about the last moments he spent with his son:
Derrick Rill says couldn't have been prouder of his son Bennett Tuesday when the teen brought home straight A’s on his report card from Carson Middle School.
"I'll carry him with me, he's never going to leave me,” Derrick Rill says. “It just hurts not to have him home today."On his last day of middle school, Derrick Rill wanted to drive his son, himself.
"It was kind of special. My wife said, ‘I'll take him.’ I said no way. Last time I get to do it, so we battled over it. He said Love you dad. Love you Bennett," Derrick Rill says.
The family is not exactly sure why the teens scaled the building but it's the memories of a fun loving, intelligent and extremely athletic teen that everyone around here will remember.
Fairfax County police spokesman Officer Don Gotthardt told WTOP that there is "no evidence that anybody attempted to enter the school -- just a tragic accident."
A vigil was held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Rachel Carson Middle School, where Rill had just finished eighth grade.
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