Boy, 8, drowns in pond after pushing through classroom divider, leaving school, coroner finds

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - New details are coming in regarding how a young boy died after leaving school and drowning earlier this month.

Lionel “Leo” Cervantes, 8, was in a classroom at Bells Crossing Elementary School on Sept. 12 with two other students and three staff members when he walked out of the room and out of the building.

Officials said staff members started chasing him, but Leo ended up getting away from them.

According to the Greenville County coroner, Leo’s body was found in six feet of water in a nearby pond.

Leo’s cause of death was listed as an accidental drowning.

The coroner’s report stated that the second grader was able to escape his classroom that day by pushing through a makeshift barrier at the door.

Greenville County School officials said the barrier was a room divider which is used as an educational tool often in special education classrooms.

“They can be used to minimize distractions, including the view of the door which can be a distraction for some students. They can also be used to teach students how to access beyond the boundary with appropriate replacement behaviors; for example, asking for a pass to go for a walk,” the school district shared.

School officials said the barriers cannot be put in front of doors due to fire code and they are normally set back away from the door.

According to the coroner’s report, Leo ran through several halls before making it outside that afternoon.

A school resource officer said four teachers were running after him and were using their handheld radios to inform staff they “had a runner.”

The report also stated that the 8-year-old had run out of his classroom before but had never made it off school property.

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