13-year-old girl dies after falling through attic of Colorado after-school facility

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A 13-year-old died after falling approximately 25 feet through an attic at a childcare facility in Colorado.

The teenager died on April 18 of injuries sustained from falling through the attic of the Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, and Redevelopment (RMSER) Empowerment Center (RMSER) during a youth "kickback" event in Pueblo, about 50 miles south of Colorado Springs.

Pueblo Police Department, in a statement emailed to Paste BN on April 22, said officers responded to reports of a juvenile who "had fallen through the ceiling of the gym at RMSER during a youth 'kickback' event featuring various activities" shortly after 7 p.m. on April 18. Upon investigation, it was determined that the 13-year-old, "along with four others, had been exploring the second floor of the building unsupervised."

"While there, the group discovered a room with a ladder leading up to the attic," police said. "As they walked across the wooden beams in the attic, a 13-year-old fell through the ceiling, dropping approximately 25 feet to the gym floor below."

Rescue officials performed life-saving measures on the girl at the scene before taking her to a local hospital. However, the measures were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead shortly after 8:00 p.m. the same day.

FOX21 News and KRDO identified the girl as Joeylin Kenley McDonald.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said, adding no other children were injured in the incident.

RMSER CEO: 'A tragic loss within our community'

RMSER CEO Christopher W. Hall, in a statement to Paste BN on April 22, mourned the teenager's death and said it occurred during a Youth Kickback event at the community-based organization's center in Pueblo.

"It is with profoundly broken hearts that we at RMSER mournfully acknowledge the heartbreaking news of a tragic loss within our community," Hall said. "On Friday evening, during a Youth Kickback event at the RMSER Pueblo Empowerment Center & Resilience Hub, a precious young soul, Joeylin, age 13, tragically passed away in an accident."

Describing Joeylin as "a bright and beloved light in our community," Hall said her "sudden passing is a devastating blow to all who knew and loved her."

Hall added that the "exact circumstances" of the accident are under investigation and requested community members to "join us in lifting in loving support and deep prayer for Joeylin, her family, friends, and all who are grieving during this unimaginable time."

Joeylin was 'one of a kind,' says aunt

Joeylin's aunt, Caitlyn Valdez, in a statement to KRDO13, called the teenager "the brightest soul in the world" and "a true force to be reckoned with."

Valdez said Joeylin was a 10th-year student at Connect Charter in Pueblo and was a bright student, like her mother. She enjoyed playing soccer, was an avid dancer and was also an alumnus and contestant in the Miss Pueblo County scholarship pageant, where last year she was runner-up for Miss Pre-Teen and crowned Miss Spirit 2024.

"The most important part of Joeylin is her family," Valdez said, adding she was very close to her siblings and parents.

"Mourning the loss of such a beautiful soul will be a daily task for the rest of our lives," Valdez said. "Joeylin is one of a kind and will never be forgotten."

A GoFundMe with a $12,000 goal was set up to help the family deal with the loss and pay for Joeyline's funeral. The page describes her as someone "full of life and joy" who loved to dance and "brought laughter and positivity wherever she went."

"She was truly a remarkable young girl — a daughter, a friend, and a light to so many," the GoFundMe account says. "Her passing has left an unfillable void in the lives of those who knew and loved her."

This story was updated to add more information.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.