Boy found floating in fountain dies

A 4-year-old boy died Monday morning after being found floating in a fountain Sunday while his parents were cleaning a childhood-development center in the Riverwood Athletic Subdivision.

Posted 3:50 p.m. Jun 29, 2008 — Updated 8:16 p.m. Jun 30, 2008

CLAYTON, N.C. — A 4-year-old boy died Monday morning after being found floating in a fountain Sunday while his parents were cleaning a childhood-development center in the Riverwood Athletic Subdivision.

Police said Derek Casanova-Gonzalez wandered away from his parents, near Charleston Drive, shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday.

Derek's parents, Gil Alonso and Erika Gonzalez-Trejo, both of Johnston County, began searching for him and found him in the outdoor fountain, police said.

Derek was unresponsive, and Alonso began performing CPR on him. The parents called 911, and Clayton emergency medical workers and police officers responded.

Derek was transported to WakeMed in Raleigh, where he died Monday, police said.

People who live in the neighborhood described the fountain as kid-friendly. The developer purposely designed it to be shallow.

“Actually, I take my neighbors little girl up there (the fountain) quite a bit,” said Teikeisha Beddoe. “I’m shocked, literally, I’m in shock.”

“It doesn't take much water to drown. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much water,” neighbor Kim Stotz said.

Investigators said Derek was autistic.

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