SYRACUSE -- A Danforth Magnet School student died suddenly over the weekend, teachers at the school confirm.
Seventh grade student Jaunzel "Johnny" Billins suffered heart failure as he was playing basketball at an event that was not school related.
The Rev. Nicholas Aversa, pastor of the Greater Love in Christ Church, tells the Post-Standard of Syracuse Billins was playing basketball with other youths last Sunday when he complained that his chest was hurting. "Apparently, he had complained that his chest was hurting, so he was subbed out of the game," Aversa told the paper. "After that, he had a hard time breathing. They immediately called 911. The ambulance and fire department got there very quickly and he was rushed to the emergency room at Upstate (University Hospital), but he just didn't come through."
Emergency crews were called and the teen was taken to a hospital emergency room, where he died several hours later. A cause of death hasn't been released.
Friends of the student have created a Facebook page in the teen's honor. One of the photos on the page shows Billins locker which appears to be covered with notes and photographs.
He's survived by his mother and a brother.
