A Jurupa Valley teenager who died after being injured in a fire at his home is being remembered as a happy boy and a musician.
Zakaria “Zak” Ruiz, 14, died on Dec. 7, according to a letter to the community from Shani Dahl, the principal at Central Middle School of Arts and Innovation in Riverside.
KCBS/2 reported that Zak had been on life support in a hospital after being rescued by firefighters from the burning home on Dec. 5.
He died at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.
“Zak was a profoundly kind student who enjoyed all aspects of school life,” Dahl wrote. “As a 7th grader he played in the Intermediate Band and his bandmates from last year are still his closest friends. As one of the tallest students at Central, you could see him above all the other kids but he was truly a gentle giant with a quick smile and an easy laugh.”
The school in the Riverside Unified School District is making counselors available to students and employees.
Nicky Rodriguez, who organized a GoFundMe page for the family, said Zak was loved by many.
“He fought a hard battle and now gained his wings in heaven,” Rodriguez wrote. “He had a happy, fulfilled life and he will continue to give us the loving memories on the time we got to spend with him.”
The fire was reported just before 2 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the home in the 3000 block of Pacific Avenue. An older brother of Zak’s suffered a cut from a broken window trying to save him.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, said Maggie Haberman, a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman.
