WYLIE, Texas — The Wylie Independent School District is mourning the deaths of two students and a former student that happened in January, officials told WFAA on Tuesday.
The deaths happened in separate incidents; two teens were killed in a shooting in Garland, and another teen died of an overdose, officials said.
A Wylie ISD spokesperson confirmed to WFAA that Chance Stovall, a student at Wylie East High School, died of an overdose. School officials said Stovall's death happened outside of Wylie and Collin County, but more details were not released.
Wylie East High School families were notified of Stovall's death. The district spokesperson also said the superintendent addressed fentanyl in a communication to families last week.
The two other deaths involved a student and former student at Wylie's Achieve Academy.
Ruben Santibanez Arzola and Alan Chavez were killed in a shooting in Garland toward the end of January, the district said. Santibanez Arzola was a student at Achieve Academy, while Chavez was a former student at Wylie High Schools, officials said.
Achieve Academy families also received a communication about Arzola and Chavez’s deaths, the district said.
"Regardless of the circumstances, any death of a young person is a tragedy," school officials said in a statement to WFAA. "January was a particularly difficult month for our school district and community – these three young men were deeply loved and cared about by their families, friends, loved ones, and teachers. Wylie ISD remains committed to assisting and supporting our students, staff, and families struggling with grief."
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