FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The family of Daniel Padilla Jr. gathered in grief outside Fresno High School on Thursday afternoon to honor the 14-year-old freshman, sharing tears, prayers and memories more than two weeks after his death.<\/p>\n
Under sunny skies, relatives stood on the front steps of the campus where Padilla collapsed during a physical education class on March 9. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died.<\/p>\n
“I never imagined being without my little brother,” said his older sister, Hailey Valdovinos.<\/p>\n
RELATED: 14-year-old Fresno High School student who died after passing out during class identified<\/a><\/p>\n A family member, Jose Mariscal, remembered Padilla as a young teen just beginning his life.<\/p>\n “He was just a kid starting high school, beginning his life to becoming an adult,” Mariscal said.<\/p>\n A recorded 911 call captured the urgency of the response that day.<\/p>\n “Can you put me on a medical call at Fresno High School? I need EMS code 3 for a juvenile that’s unconscious in the south gym. Scene secure, have them roll in,” a dispatcher said in a recorded call.<\/p>\n First responders transported Padilla to a hospital, but despite life-saving efforts, he died. Mariscal said the news was difficult to accept.<\/p>\n “I didn’t want to believe it. I just thought it was a dream. I wanted it to be a dream, but then it wasn’t,” he said.<\/p>\n Padilla’s mother, Kenia Ruiz, said the family is still searching for clarity about what happened.<\/p>\n “We still don’t know exactly what happened. We’re searching for answers, but we don’t know yet,” Ruiz said.<\/p>\n She said their final conversation took place during the drive to school earlier that day.<\/p>\n “We were talking about his cousin’s quincea\u00f1era in May. He was so excited,” Ruiz said.<\/p>\n Standing before the school, Ruiz shared a message for other parents.<\/p>\n “Hug your kids; love them and let them know that they are cared for,” she said.<\/p>\n The family sharing a moment of prayer, thanking God for the years they had with the son, brother, and friend they called Danny.<\/p>\n “…For the moments that we had with him, for the memories that will never go away,” a family member said during the prayer.<\/p>\n Another relative added, “He’s in Heaven with God.”<\/p>\n As they mourn, the family is making arrangements for Padilla’s burial and memorial services. If you;d like to donate to help with those expenses, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n For news updates, follow Christina Lopez on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n