Thursday, October 22, 2009
YOUNGSTOWN — The East High School cheerleader who collapsed during an after-school practice Wednesday and later died has been identified as Jabraya Howell of Shirley Road.
Howell was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center where she died. The Mahoning County coroner’s office is investigating.
Superintendent Wendy Webb said grief counselors were at East High School and other schools in the district this morning to deal with student concerns over Howell’s death.
Howell was very popular and had a lot of friends, Webb said, noting that she had also attended Chaney High School before her family moved and she was reassigned to East.
Today was her 17th birthday and members of her family joined the East cheerleading squad at the school this morning to celebrate her life.