A third-grade student at Mercer Area Elementary School died Wednesday afternoon after choking on Monday during her lunch period.
Aizeya Mattocks, 8, died at 5:46 p.m. at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office. Family members told a Pittsburgh television station on Tuesday that the little girl suffered heart and brain damage and was on a ventilator.
Her aunt, Jamie Mattocks, posted news about the little girl's death on her Facebook page, saying "God needed another angel and he got one today."
School principal Michelle Dietrich said in a press release that Aizeya choked during the morning lunch period and the cafeteria monitors immediately notified the school nurse and administration, as well as called 911. She said the children were sent back to their classrooms before the ambulance arrived.
The release does not say what caused Aizeya to choke.
A guidance counselor will be available Thursday for students, according to school officials.
