Racine investigators identify victim pulled from Quarry Lake

RACINE --- The Racine County Sheriff's Office identified the16-year-old who died after being pulled from Quarry Lake as Travon Gray.  He attended Horlick High School in Racine.

Officials say Gray was at Quarry Lake Park on Sunday, June 17th, and jumped off of the pier with some friends. Divers were called to the scene to search for Gray. He was pronounced dead at Wheaton Franciscan Medical Center.

"I'm just hurting. That was my brother who I was close to. I just want my brother back. That's all I want and need," Gray's sister, Zakiya Gray said.

Gray had been swimming with Keyontae Howard and another friend.

"We all jumped in one-by-one. Travon was the last one to jump in. I went back up and he didn't come up behind us, so we jumped back in and we couldn't find him because the color of the water -- it was dirty," Howard said.

Gray's friends immediately called 911.

"The second we called them, we said we need a dive crew. We need somebody to come down here and get him," Howard said.

Howard said he was in total disbelief.

"We were all shocked. We were, all of us, looking under the bridge to see if he caught on to the under," Howard said.

On Monday, family and friends gathered at the Gray's house to console one another.

"If anyone remembers him for anything, remember him for the person he was.  He was a great person, beautiful person, always made you laugh.  I miss him and I love him," Marlo Thomas, a family friend said.

Officials say lifeguards don't work at Quarry Lake anymore because attendance is low. This is the first year Racine County has not had lifeguards at Quarry Lake.   They have used them in the past, and their shift ended at 6:30 p.m.  The Racine County Dispatch Center received a 911 call about Gray at approximately 7:09 p.m.

The family scheduled a vigil for Gray at Quarry Lake at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19th.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

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