BLOOMFIELD, CT. (THECOUNT) — Tragedy struck the Bloomfield, Connecticut community on Wednesday when 14-year-old Jahkye Gayle, a dedicated member of the Pop Warner sponsored Bloomfield Junior Warhawks Football Team, collapsed during practice and later passed away. Despite immediate attention from staff and emergency personnel on the scene, Jahkye could not be revived.
According to Trevor Ford, president of Junior Warhawks Football, Jahkye collapsed during a routine warmup drill. “It was just like a walk through, essentially just light jogging. Nothing strenuous or anything like that,” Ford explained.
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A Community in Mourning
On Saturday night, hundreds of teammates, friends, and family members gathered on the football field to honor Jahkye’s memory. The emotional vigil included candlelight ceremonies and a symbolic release of balloons into the sky.
Jahkye’s brother, Lamar, expressed his heartbreak. “It’s hard losing my brother, someone I shared a room with, did everything with, and grew up with. He was overall a great person who changed people with his presence,” Lamar said.
Jahkye was well-loved by his peers and coaches, known for his skill on the field and his sense of humor. A long-standing member of the Junior Warhawks Pop Warner Football Team, Jahkye was scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award at this year’s banquet. His teammates plan to dedicate the rest of their season, including an upcoming national championship appearance, to his memory.
A Mother’s Heartache
Jahkye’s mother, Stacey Haylett, expressed the profound pain of losing her youngest child. “Jahkye was my youngest, my baby… I just don’t know what went wrong,” she said.
Support from the Community
In response to the tragedy, the Interim Superintendent of Schools and the Bloomfield Town Manager issued a joint statement offering their condolences. “We encourage all students, staff, and families to reach out for help and to lean on each other for support and strength,” the statement read.
To assist those grieving, counseling services will be available at both Bloomfield High School and Carmen Arace Schools starting Monday. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Jahkye’s family with future expenses.
Via GoFundMe:
We, the Bloomfield Jr. Warhawks, Inc. Board of Directors, have created this GoFundMe to support the family of Jahkye Gayle during this unimaginable time of loss.
It is with profound sadness that we share the devastating news of Jahkye’s passing. At just 14 years old, Jahkye was a vibrant, talented, and beloved son, friend, and teammate whose light touched everyone around him. He was a proud member of the Bloomfield Jr. Warhawks, where his dedication, sportsmanship, and love for football inspired his teammates and coaches alike.
On Wednesday evening, during what should have been a routine practice, Jahkye tragically collapsed. Despite the best efforts of staff and emergency medical personnel, he could not be revived. His passing has left an indescribable void in the lives of his family, friends, and the entire community.
Jahkye had recently embarked on a new journey, transferring to Manchester High School while maintaining deep ties to his Bloomfield community. His bright future was full of promise, and his absence is felt profoundly by all who knew and loved him.
This GoFundMe has been created to help lift the financial burden of funeral and memorial expenses from Jahkye’s family, allowing them the space to grieve without added stress. Every contribution, no matter the size, is a meaningful way to honor Jahkye’s memory and support his family in their time of need.
As a community, we mourn together and celebrate the joy Jahkye brought to our lives. His passion for life, his warm smile, and his unwavering spirit will remain in our hearts forever.
Thank you for your generosity, prayers, and support. Let us stand together to honor Jahkye’s life, uplift his family, and help them navigate this unimaginable loss.
Please respect the family’s privacy as they grieve. Your kindness and compassion mean more than words can express.
Our organization will be raising these funds on behalf of the family and we will be using them to pay directly for the funeral and other additional expenses that the family will encounter. The Bloomfield Jr Warhawks will be paying all vendors directly on behalf of the family.
At last check the GoFundMe had raised over $8,500.
Bloomfield is a suburb of Hartford in the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, United States. The town’s population was 21,535 at the 2020 census, Bloomfield’s highest decennial census count ever. Bloomfield is best known as the headquarters of healthcare services company Cigna.
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