A 17 year-old high school cheerleader is dead after committing suicide by jumping from a highway overpass in California.
Emily Gold’s Tragic Suicide
Emily Gold, who was a student at Los Osos High School, was found dead by suicide at 11:52 pm on Friday. California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez later told People Magazine that “officers from the California Highway Patrol Rancho Cucamonga area responded to a pedestrian down in lanes.”
“When the officers arrived, they located a female, 17 year old, who was struck by at least one other vehicle in the carpool lane on eastbound 210,” Jimenez continued. “The female did succumb to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Police are reportedly treating Gold’s death as a suicide.
Gold’s Family Speaks Out
Gold’s father has since spoken out to confirm her passing in an emotional Instagram post.
“With sadness beyond measure we must tell you all that we lost our beautiful Emily on September 13th, our hearts have a hole the size of the universe right now,” he wrote.
“The outpouring of love and support we are receiving shows us how many lives that angel touched and lifted, and it is what will help us through the most difficult time of our lives,” he added.
Gold’s twin brother Alex also paid tribute to her on social media.
“The times we spent together won’t ever be enough,” he wrote. “You were my whole childhood and the memories we made together and all the places we’ve been and seen together will always stay with me.”
“You really broke my heart Em,” he continued. “I’ll always stay up for you and live life for you.”
Related: Perry Kurtz, Fan-Favorite on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Killed In Hit And Run At 73
Gold Competes On America’s Got Talent
This comes just one month after Gold competed on America’s Got Talent with the Los Osos High School dance team. Indeed, they made it through the auditions and got to the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated in August.
Even though they were eliminated, the team received a standing ovation from judge Simon Cowell.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” Cowell told Gold’s team. “What I loved about this was first of all the energy. I think what I just saw is everything a great school should be doing, which is encouraging talent and friendship.”
“It reminded me of seeing the High School Musical movie and thinking every kid should go to a school like that,” he later added.
Check out that performance in the video below.
Related: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Golden Buzzer Contestant Nightbirde Dies After Cancer Battle
Gold Loved Performing
Meanwhile, Gold opened up about how much she loved performing in an interview on August 13.
“When I’m performing, I’m really thinking about all the corrections because we get corrections up until five minutes before we go on stage,” she said at the time. “So to really just think about all those so that we apply them is my biggest priority on stage.”
As for how she was juggling her high school responsibilities with competing on the NBC reality show, she admitted that “it’s definitely tough to balance it all, but we make it happen.”
Watch Gold’s team’s final America’s Got Talent performance in the video below.
A GoFundMe page has additionally been set up to help Gold’s family.
“With great sadness we share our Los Osos Grizzly Emily Gold has passed away,” the fundraiser read. “As a community lets come together and support the Gold family in this difficult time. Please know this money will go directly to the family to support them and help with expenses.”
Please join us in saying a prayer for Gold’s family during this incredibly tragic time.
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