9-Year-Old Killed After Crawling Under School Bus Was Cancer Survivor: 'He Had Already Been Through a Lot'

Mar. 15, 2025

Elyas Amyr Marshall-Rodriguez.Photo:GoFundMe

Elyas Amyr Marshall-Rodriguez

GoFundMe

The Lawton Chiles Elementary student exited the bus at the apartment complex shortly before crawling underneath the vehicle, according to previous reports. A relative said the boy was attempting to retrieve a football at the time of the incident.

Trenae Gayle, who organized the online fundraiser, told WESH that her cousin previously “went through the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of how severe” his cancer was.

“He just got his port taken out last year,” Gayle told the station. “He had already been through a lot in his life.”

The boy also dreamed of “going to the NBA [or] NFL one day,” according to his cousin.

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As Thursday afternoon, nearly $20,000 has been raised via GoFundMe to support Marshall-Rodriguez’s family following his sudden death.

A memorial for Marshall-Rodriguez has also been started outside the apartment complex where he died, according toThe Orlando Sentinel.

source: people.com