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Family, friends gather in MetroPark for boy, 13, who drowned in Great Miami River

UPDATE @ 7 p.m. (Aug. 20): Family and friends gathered at Island MetroPark to remember DeAngelo Casey, who drowned in the Great Miami River on Sunday evening.

Dozens of balloons were released to memorialize the child who had just started seventh grade at EJ Brown in the Dayton Public Schools system.

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Lavon Johnson, DeAngelo’s older brother, who described his younger sibling as respectful, intelligent and amazing.

Johnson told WHIO-TV’s Mike Campbell the family is still trying to figure out the truth because there are so many stories about what happened. He said he just wants justice for his brother and peace concerning the situation.

In a letter from Principal C.M. Goode to parents, DeAngelo was recalled as a well-liked student. DeAngelo completed his elementary education at Bell Haven, also in the Dayton system.

Goode said the district’s psychological services crises response team was at EJ Brown on Monday and were available to students.

Sunday night, the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office identified DeAngelo as the child who drowned.

Dayton Fire District Chief Brad Baldwin said that according to initial reports, a boy and two friends were at the pedestrian bridge. One of them walked into the river, went under and accidentally drowned.

Crews launched two search boats, with a third one launched by a dive team from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, who found him about 7:35 p.m.

Crews were dispatched about 5:40 p.m.

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