LINGLESTOWN, Pa. — A vigil was held Tuesday to remember the life of Justin Johnson, the 16-year-old Central Dauphin High School student who died suddenly last Friday.
The vigil, held at Koons Park in Linglestown, saw Central Dauphin students along with community members and well-wishers gather on what would have been Johnson's 17th birthday.
Friends of Johnson say he was a true friend.
"He was a brother, not even just a friend," said Peter Santa, a Central Dauphin freshman who helped organize the vigil. "I saw him every morning, always talked to him about how he put work into the weight room. Always talked about his fashion, about wearing polos and everything. It really upset me and others. So I decided to bring everybody together and celebrate him since it was his birthday today."
Johnson was pronounced dead at Hershey Medical Center last Friday night after his father found him unresponsive on the floor of his home in Lower Paxton Township.
According to the Dauphin County Coroner, Johnson's official cause of death was complications from sickle cell disease. The coroner also identified cardiomyopathy as another significant condition.
Rumors and videos have circulated on social media that claim Johnson died after an apparent hazing incident. The investigation into the incident by Lower Paxton Township Police remains ongoing.
Santa says Justin would have been thrilled to see the community come together to celebrate him.
"I'm very happy seeing everybody together and just glad that we could put everything together, community, friends, family and everything," Santa said. "He's probably smiling down on us."
Other Central Dauphin students say they are keeping reminders of Justin wherever they go.
"I will remember him on my phone actually," said Dillinger Kepner, a freshman at Central Dauphin. "I have him as my lock screen. So every day I wake up and look at my phone, I can see him. I just think about him all the time."
The gatherers released balloons in the air, and plan to plant flowers at the park in Justin's memory.